Osteoporosis Drug that can Cure Breast Cancer
Drugs for osteoporosis may reduce by up to 40 percent the risk of breast cancer, according to a study by the Cancer Research Center Fred Hutchinson in Seattle (United States) that is published in the journal British Journal of Cancer.
The research found that women using bisphosphonate drugs for more than two years had nearly 40 percent lower risk compared with those not taking them.
New evidence against cancer
As explained Polly Newcomb, director of the study, “this large study provides new evidence that bisphosphonate use is associated with a significant reduction in risk of breast cancer.
The protective effect was observed only among women who were not obese. “Obese women may have elevated estrogen levels and therefore the underlying hormones could influence the ability of bisphosphonates to reduce the risk of breast cancer,” says Newcomb.
Is unknown how these drugs could prevent breast cancer but the research suggests that these drugs may affect cell function and be important in development and cell death, particularly in the death of tumor or premalignant disease.
Researchers have discovered that certain classes of bisphosphonates directly produce cell suicide (apoptosis), inhibit the formation of tumor blood supply (angiogenesis) and prevent the ability of tumor cells to bind to other cells.
The study involved nearly 6,000 women in Wisconsin (United States) between 20 and 29 years. Half of them had been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and half did not. The women were interviewed in relation to their bone health, their history of fractures, if they had received a diagnosis of osteoporosis and its use of bisphosphonates.
Risk Factors
The analysis took into account risk factors for breast cancer and history of the disease in first degree relatives, age at first birth, postmenopausal hormone intake and body mass index.
According to the authors conclude, since they were considered important confounders, the findings may reflect real benefits because of anti-tumor mechanisms of these drugs.