title: Developmental windows of breast cancer risk provide opportunities for targeted chemoprevention.
abstract: The magnitude of the breast cancer problem implores researchers to aggressively investigate prevention strategies. However, several barriers currently reduce the feasibility of breast cancer prevention. These barriers include the inability to accurately predict future breast cancer diagnosis at the individual level, the need for improved understanding of when to implement interventions, uncertainty with respect to optimal duration of treatment, and negative side effects associated with currently approved chemoprevention therapies. None-the-less, the unique biology of the mammary gland, with its postnatal development and conditional terminal differentiation, may permit the resolution of many of these barriers. Specifically, lifecycle-specific windows of breast cancer risk have been identified that may be amenable to risk-reducing strategies. Here, we argue for prevention research focused on two of these lifecycle windows of risk: postpartum mammary gland involution and peri-menopause. We provide evidence that these windows are highly amenable to targeted, limited duration treatments. Such approaches could result in the prevention of postpartum and postmenopausal breast cancers, correspondingly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, MS8117, RC1S, 8401K, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Program in Cancer Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, MS8104, RC1S, 5117, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Holly A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Martinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, MS8117, RC1S, 8401K, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Traci R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine, RC1S, Room 7103, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Mail Stop 8106, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, 12348 East Montview Boulevard, Campus Box C263, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Erin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, MS8117, RC1S, 8401K, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, Building 500, Suite 6004C, 13001 East 17th Place, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 1665 Aurora Court, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Virginia F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, MS8117, RC1S, 8401K, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Program in Cancer Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, MS8104, RC1S, 5117, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, Building 500, Suite 6004C, 13001 East 17th Place, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 1665 Aurora Court, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Electronic address: Pepper.Schedin@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Pepper
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schedin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Menopause; Metformin; NSAID; Postpartum involution; Stromal epithelial interactions; Tamoxifen