At a glance
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Effects of Exemestane on Bone Strength in Postmenopausal Women at Increased Risk of Developing Breast Cancer
In Brief
An observational study for Osteoporosis and Breast Cancer. Completed, enrolled 351 participants across 4 sites in 2 countries.
Detailed Summary
The NCIC CTG was conducting an international breast cancer prevention trial (MAP.3) examining the effects of a new therapy (exemestane) for breast cancer prevention in postmenopausal women at increased risk of developing this disease. Results showed that after a median follow up of 35 months, exemestane was superior to placebo in breast cancer prevention. Exemestane blocks estrogen production, which may be beneficial for preventing breast cancer, but may have negative effects on bone. As postmenopausal women are at risk for developing osteoporosis, determining whether exemestane causes bones to weaken is crucial for women considering it for long-term use. Dr. Cheung's team followed the bone health of 354 women in MAP.3 in detail over 2 years and found that volumetric bone mineral density (by high resolution peripheral quantitative computer tomography (HR-pQCT) at the radius and tibia as well as areal bone mineral density by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the hip and spine decreased significantly with the use of exemestane. The long term effects of exemestane on bone will be examined up to 5 years of therapy and then 2 years post therapy to delineate the effects of exemestane on bone strength. This research will inform us on the safety of exemestane for breast cancer prevention.