STAR Results Released: Initial Results Show Raloxifene to be as Effective as Tamoxifen in Preventing Invasive Breast Cancer

10/02/2006

STAR Results Released: Initial Results Show Raloxifene to be as Effective as Tamoxifen in Preventing Invasive Breast Cancer The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) trial, one the largest breast cancer prevention clinical trials ever conducted, enrolled over 19,000 postmenopausal women who are at increased risk of breast cancer development. The study was conducted to show the role of Raloxifene, currently used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, in reducing breast cancer for postmenopausal women at increased risk of beast cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either Raloxifene of Tamoxifen daily for 5 years. The study yielded the following major results: • Raloxifene is just as effective for postmenopausal women as Tamoxifen, without some of the serious side effects associated with Tamoxifen. • Raloxifene does not increase the risk of developing cataracts, as Tamoxifen does. • Women that were receiving Raloxifene in this study had 29 percent fewer blood clots and 46 percent fewer uterine cancers compared to women receiving Tamoxifen. • Raloxifene was not shown to reduce the incidence of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Georgia Participants Approximately 220 Georgia women participated in the study. The approximate racial breakdown for the Atlanta CCOP includes: 1% Asian, 10 % African American, and 90% Caucasian. Georgia’s STAR participants were honored on June 25, 2006 at a luncheon at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta followed by seats at the musical Chicago2. Congratulations to all participants for contributing to the advancement of breast cancer research.