Cancer Researchers Seek 2000 More Women to Study Breast Cancer Prevention

The Barrett Center for Cancer Research at the UC Medical Center is continuing a study funded by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported cancer research network. This breast cancer prevention trial is called the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) and needs 2,000 more participants nationwide.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Postmenopausal women age 35 or older who are at high risk for developing breast cancer may be eligible for this study.

"I am thrilled that women in our area are being given this innovative opportunity to learn about their breast cancer risk and to consider joining STAR," said Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, professor of surgery at the UC College of Medicine. "Everyone benefits when prevention is made a priority."

STAR is designed to compare the effectiveness and safety of raloxifene (Evista(r)), an osteoporosis prevention and treatment drug, to tamoxifen (Nolvadex(r)) for reducing breast cancer risk.  Over 500 centers in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada are enrolling 19,000 postmenopausal women age 35 and older who are at high risk for developing breast cancer into the trial. More than 17,000 women have already joined STAR since it was opened in July 1999.  

Once a woman chooses to participate she will be randomly assigned to take either tamoxifen or raloxifene daily for five years and will have regular follow-up examinations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of tamoxifen to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in women at increased risk of the disease in 1998.  Raloxifene has been shown to reduce the incidence of breast cancer and this study is a comparison of the two medications.

Women interested in locating a STAR site may call Danyelle at the Barrett Cancer Center, (513) 584-0618, or the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).  For more information on STAR, visit the NSABP's Web site at the NCI's clinical trials Web site,  and choose the "STAR" study.