Drug Used To Treat Bone Loss Offers Hope For Women At High Risk For Breast Cancer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Researchers are having good results with a drug for women at high risk for breast cancer because of gene mutation.
Women with the BRCA1 gene mutation are at high risk for developing breast cancer and medical oncologist Dr. Sramila Aithal of Cancer Treatment Centers of America says currently there are few options to keep them cancer free.
"Currently these women are offered prophylactic bilateral mastectomies for risk reduction of breast cancer," Aithal says, "and sometimes they're also offered use of hormonal therapy such as tamoxifen which interferes with their fertility."
Australian researchers have discovered the osteoporosis drug Denosumab may offer cancer protection.
"Denosumab is currently a medication used in the treatment of osteoporosis," she says. "It is also used to prevent skeletal events in women who already have been diagnosed with breast cancer having spread to their bones to prevent fractures from happening."
The research is in its early stages, but Dr. Aithal calls it promising.