Prevention of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
While all-inclusive complete models for breast cancer development are not available, four concepts are likely to be critical to creation of well-grounded breast cancer prevention efforts: 1) step-by-step progressive development, 2) involving multiple factors, 3) over several years, and 4) during a long period of which the process may be reversible. Interventions to prevent breast cancer must have a comprehensive biological rationale, an absence of serious toxic effects, and long-term acceptability by women. Prophylactic mastectomy may be beneficial in some women, but identification of individuals at very high risk for breast cancer remains elusive. At present, greater attention to four manipulable risk factors is appropriate: radiation, smoking, alcohol, and lactation. Clinical trials are in the process of studying a synthetic retinoid (4-hydroxyphenylretinamide), tamoxifen, and a low-fat diet. Other breast cancer prevention strategies in various phases of preclinical trial evaluation include: pseudopregnancy, an "ideal" combination oral contraceptive, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist oophorectomy, modification of estrogen metabolism, suppression of ornithine decarboxylase induction, and manipulation of growth factors.
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University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Human Oncology, Madison 53706.
D000328:Adult; D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000150:complications; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017313:Fenretinide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D008408:Mastectomy; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D017697:Premenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000139:chemically induced; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013695:Temperance; D013997:Time Factors
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004967:Estrogens; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D013629:Tamoxifen; D017313:Fenretinide; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone