title: Bone Quality Test (BQT) scores of fingernails in postmenopausal patients treated with adjuvant letrozole or tamoxifen for early breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between nail and bone may be measurable, thus making the fingernail a potentially valuable tool for assessing bone health for women receiving treatment for breast cancer. In the BIG 1-98 Fingernail Pilot Substudy, Bone Quality Test (BQT) scores of fingernails were measured at two assessment timepoints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen eligible patients were enrolled into the substudy during their treatment with tamoxifen (four patients) or letrozole (nine patients). Two fingernails were tested and BQT scores averaged for two assessments six months apart.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BQT scores collected six months later (second assessment) significantly decreased compared with those at first collection (p=0.007) regardless of treatment and prior fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction of BQT scores observed in the patients of our small exploratory study during exposure to bone-altering breast cancer treatments is an incentive for larger studies using this technique.
authors.affiliation: IBCSG Statistical Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Zhuoxin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Aron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldhirsch
authors.forename: Karen N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colleoni
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ravaioli
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gelber
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Towler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017698:Postmenopause; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000077289:Letrozole