The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, or STAR, one of the largest breast cancer prevention studies ever, is now recruiting volunteers at more than 500 centers across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Recruitment to the study began in 1999.
Participants receive either tamoxifen or raloxifene.
STAR is limited to postmenopausal women because there is not enough safety data about the use of raloxifene in premenopausal women, although such a safety study is under way. Both tamoxifen and raloxifene have been shown to increase the chances of developing potentially life-threatening health problems. An important part of STAR will be to compare the long- term safety of raloxifene and tamoxifen in women at increased risk of breast cancer. To help in the STAR recruitment effort and as a public service to its employees, General Motors Corporation, which insures 1.2 million workers, announced in February 2001 that it is sending free breast cancer screening information to 140,000 of its current and retired salaried female employees.