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STAR    BREAST CANCER PREVENTION TRIAL

STAR Study Results

Initial Results of the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) Released:  Osteoporosis Drug, Raloxifene Shown to be as Effective as Tamoxifen in Preventing Invasive Breast Cancer

Initial results of the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, or STAR, show that the drug raloxifene, currently used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, works as well as tamoxifen in reducing breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women at increased risk of the disease.  In STAR, both drugs reduced the risk of developing invasive breast cancer by about 50 percent.  In addition, within the study, women who were prospectively and randomly assigned to take raloxifene daily, and who were followed for an average of about 4 years, had 36 percent fewer uterine cancers and 29 percent fewer blood clots than the women who were assigned to take tamoxifen.  Uterine cancers, especially endometrial cancers, are a rare but serious side effect of tamoxifen.  Both tamoxifen and raloxifene are known to increase a woman's risk of blood clots.

STAR, one of the largest breast cancer prevention clinical trials ever conducted, enrolled 19,747 postmenopausal women who were at increased risk of the disease.  Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 60 mg of raloxifene (Evista) or 20 mg of tamoxifen (Nolvadex) daily for five years.  The trial will continue to provide the study drugs until all the participants have completed their five years on the drug along with an additional two years of post-drug follow-up.  The trial is coordinated by the National Surgical Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) and is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

In Montana and Wyoming, 122 women on STAR are currently being followed by the Montana Cancer Consortium.

MCC Awards and Recognition 

NSABP Stellar Award to MCC for STAR Performance

The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project has honored Montana Cancer Consortium with the STAR Stellar Award for exceptional efforts in STAR, Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene. Clinical centers were evaluated for performance in the areas of accrual, compliance rates, and timely and accurate data submission.  MCC was one of 41 sites to receive the award for excellent performance.

There were more than 19,000 participants in the STAR trial.   MCC has 121 participants enrolled.

Thank you to our STAR participants for your devotion to finding ways to prevent breast cancer.

 Are you at increased risk of developing breast cancer? 

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in North American women and it is the leading cause of cancer death, second only to lung cancer.  Simply being a woman and getting older is enough to put you at risk for breast cancer.  It depends on a combination of lifestyle and personal traits that are known as “risk factors.”   The following risk factors are strongly related to the disease and can alert you and your physician to the need for careful follow-up:

  •  A family history of breast cancer, especially in your mother, sisters or daughters.

  • Age, in general, the older you are, the greater your risk.

  • Never having borne a child.

  • Having your first child after age 30.
  • First menstrual period at an early age.                                                                                          
  • A history of benign breast disease that required biopsies.                                                                 
  • Other breast conditions:  like lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasia.

    Your physician or health professional will be able to help you determine your risk factors.  The standard of care to help detect breast cancer at an early stage includes regular mammograms and annual checkups.

 

Montana Cancer Consortium

at 406-259-2245 or 1-800-361-3239