Tamoxifen and risk of contralateral breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: a case-control study. Hereditary Breast Cancer Clinical Study Group.
BACKGROUND
Women with a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have a high risk of developing breast cancer and of contralateral cancer after the initial diagnosis of breast cancer. Tamoxifen protects against contralateral breast cancer in the general population, but whether it protects against contralateral breast cancer in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers is not known.


METHODS
We compared 209 women with bilateral breast cancer and BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation (bilateral-disease cases), with 384 women with unilateral disease and BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation (controls) in a matched case-control study. Age and age at diagnosis of breast cancer (range 24-74 years) were much the same in bilateral-disease cases and controls, and both groups had been followed up for the same time for a second primary breast cancer. History of tamoxifen use for first breast cancer was obtained by interview, or by self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
The multivariate odds ratio for contralateral breast cancer associated with tamoxifen use was 0.50 (95% CI 0.28-0.89). Tamoxifen protected against contralateral breast cancer for carriers of BRCA1 mutations (odds ratio 0.38, 95% CI 0.19-0.74) and for those with BRCA2 mutations (0.63, 0.20-1.50). In women who used tamoxifen for 2-4 years, the risk of contralateral breast cancer was reduced by 75%. A reduction in risk of contralateral cancer was also seen with oophorectomy (0.42, 0.22-0.83) and with chemotherapy (0-40, 0.26-0.60).


CONCLUSIONS
Tamoxifen use reduces the risk of contralateral breast cancer in women with pathogenic mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. The protective effect of tamoxifen seems independent of that of oophorectomy.
Narod
S A
SA
Centre for Research on Women's Health, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. steven.narod@swchsc.on.ca
Brunet
J S
JS
Ghadirian
P
P
Robson
M
M
Heimdal
K
K
Neuhausen
S L
SL
Stoppa-Lyonnet
D
D
Lerman
C
C
Pasini
B
B
de los Rios
P
P
Weber
B
B
Lynch
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013629:Tamoxifen