Blood hormone levels identify which post-menopausal women will benefit most from a medication to prevent breast cancer (Low estradiol = less likely to benefit)

Medical Xpress / Queen Mary, University of London / The Lancet Oncology ^ | Dec. 6, 2023 | Jack Cuzick et al

[ConservativeMind]

Research has found that hormone levels, measured through blood tests, are an important indicator of whether women will benefit from recently licensed medication for the prevention of breast cancer.

Aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole are recommended as an option for preventive therapy in post-menopausal women at high risk of breast cancer.

Post-menopausal women who have higher concentrations of the hormone estrogen in their bloodstream are at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors stop the production of estrogen and reduce the amount made in the body. They are currently the most effective preventive agent for estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer, but their utility could be increased by identifying those who stand to benefit most by taking these drugs.

Professor Jack Cuzick analyzed data from the IBIS-II prevention trial.

In their analysis of a case-control study of 212 women there was a clear trend of increasing risk with increasing hormone levels in the placebo group, but not in the anastrozole group. A 55% reduction in risk of developing cancer was seen in three-quarters of the women receiving anastrozole, but a much lower reduction was seen in those in the bottom 25% of estradiol levels.

These data suggest that inexpensive blood tests to measure hormones could be used to identify women who will benefit most from preventive therapy with an aromatase inhibitor. This personalization would allow for women to receive the medication that would offer them the best balance of managing cancer risk and side effects.

Professor Jack Cuzick said, "These results are very exciting, and can refine how we choose preventive medication for post-menopausal women at high risk of breast cancer. In our study the 25% of these women with the lowest estradiol measurements benefitted little from taking anastrozole, while still suffering from the side effects of the drug."

[ConservativeMind]

Looking to a different therapy early, if one’s benefit from one (aromatase inhibitors) is diminished, seems reasonable.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Tea Drinker]

I asked a gynecologist a few years back why estrogen levels aren’t routinely tested as estrogen driven breast cancer is what most post menopausal women get. She told me it “wasn’t helpful”. Dingbat.
We got my mom on a supplement called DIM after she has a cancerous lump removed 6 years ago at age 85. There was no spread - nothing in lymph nodes and everything was removed. She was pressured to do radiation and to take an estrogen suppressant drug. Turned down the radiation and the estrogen suppressant had side effects which would affect her joints and mobility, which were already an issue. The DIM has the compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. Suppose to naturally suppress estrogen.

[AbolishCSEU]

I took (poorly managed) HRT for meno symptoms which led to stage 1 breast cancer. I had the surgery— hadn’t spread to lymph nodes. I opted for minimal radiation and opted out of the hormone inhibitor as I was starting to get osteo before the HRT. I think I will start taking DIM again.