Future possibilities in the prevention of breast cancer: luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists.
The cyclic production of estrogen and progesterone by the premenopausal ovary accounts for the steep rise in breast cancer risk in premenopausal women. These hormones are breast cell mitogens. By reducing exposure to these ovarian hormones, agonists of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) given to suppress ovarian function may prove useful in cancer prevention. To prevent deleterious effects of hypoestrogenemia, the addition of low-dose hormone replacement to the LHRH agonist appears necessary. Pilot data with such an approach indicates it is feasible and reduces mammographic densities.
USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and University of Southern California/Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA. dspicer@hsc.usc.edu
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D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D017273:Goserelin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008327:Mammography; D008777:Methyltestosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017697:Premenopause; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012306:Risk; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects
D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins; D017273:Goserelin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone; D008777:Methyltestosterone