To be eligible, women must be at least 35 and have undergone menopause. They must have an increased risk of breast cancer as determined by their age, family history, personal medical history, age at first menstrual period and age at the birth of their first child. Participants will visit Mayo for follow- ups every six months for five years. Once a woman chooses to participate, she will be randomly assigned to receive one drug or the other. The drugs are provided without charge.
Tamoxifen reduces the risk of developing breast cancer, while raloxifene can prevent osteoporosis.
Raloxifene was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 1997 to prevent osteoporosis, and studies have suggested it might play a role in preventing breast cancer. Although the risk of developing blood clots is similar to that with tamoxifen, raloxifene does not seem to increase the risk of endometrial cancer. STAR not only will compare the drugs' ability to prevent breast cancer but also their long-term safety. D.C. Wire services and national TV networks are expected to attend. The National Cancer Institute will transmit B-roll at the following times today.