Some Women May be at Increased Breast Cancer Risk After Estrogen Withdrawal

According to a two-year study by researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, some women with an inherited mutation, known as the KRAS-variant, may be at increased risk to breast cancer after abrupt estrogen withdrawal. The findings were published on May 11 in the journal Cell Cycle.

If You're Experiencing These Signs You May Have High Estrogen

Check this Article: Penile Implant Surgery in India

The study was led by Joanne Weidhaas, MD, PhD, a UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center member and director of translational research at the David Geffen School of Medicine. Her team analyzed data from a group of more than 1,700 breast cancer patients who all furnished DNA samples to be tested for the inherited KRAS-variant. The study also included a group of women with the KRAS-variant who did not have cancer, as well as biological models to scientifically confirm the clinical findings.

The investigators found that acute estrogen withdrawal, such as ovary removal without estrogen replacement, discontinuation of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) as experienced after ovary removal, or with hormone replacement therapy discontinuation, and/or a low estrogen state in women with the KRAS-variant produced an increased breast cancer risk. Acute estrogen withdrawal also triggered breast cancer formation in the KRAS-variant biological models that were used in the study. In addition, the researchers found that up to 455 of breast cancer patients with the KRAS-variant went on to develop a second independent breast cancer; thus, marking a 12-fold increased risk over breast cancer patients without the KRAS-variant.

Previous studies have reported that the KRAS-variant, which is present in 1 out of 17 individuals, or 6 % of the world's population, predicts an increased risk of various cancers, including breast cancer; furthermore, it is present in up to 20%of newly diagnosed cancer patients. I addition, a previous study showed that women with the KRAS-variant are significantly more likely to develop both breast and ovarian cancer.

Dr. Weidhaas explained, "Although we had evidence that the KRAS-variant was a stronger predictor of cancer risk for women than men, we did not previously have a scientific explanation for this observation. This study's findings, showing that estrogen withdrawal can influence cancer risk for women with the KRAS-variant, begins to provide some answers."

The findings of the study contrast with some past ones that suggested that women on combination hormone replacement therapy are more likely to develop breast cancer. However, they are in agreement with follow-up studies that found estrogen alone may actually protect women from breast cancer. Dr. Weidhaas said, "The KRAS-variant may be a genetic difference that could actually help identify women who could benefit from continuing estrogen, or at a minimum, at least tapering it appropriately. We hope that there are real opportunities to personalize risk reducing strategies for these women, through further defining the most protective estrogen management approaches, as well as by understanding the impact of different treatment alternatives at the time of a woman's first breast cancer diagnosis."

Estrogen Withdrawal Increase to Breast Cancer

Source: http://www.edtreatmentindia.com/