A clinical trial from Northwestern University suggests that Duavee, a drug used to ease menopausal symptoms, may also reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer. Researchers enrolled 141 postmenopausal women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)—a non-invasive form of breast cancer often detected during routine mammograms.
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Treatment Challenges
DCIS accounts for 25% of all breast cancer diagnoses in the United States. While it has a 98% recovery rate ten years after surgical removal, many patients also receive radiation or hormone therapy to lower the chance of recurrence. These additional treatments can cause serious side effects, prompting researchers to search for safer alternatives.
Duavee’s Role and Composition
Duavee combines estrogen with bazedoxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). Bazedoxifene can either boost or block the body’s use of estrogen, depending on the tissue. This makes Duavee effective for both treating menopausal symptoms and preventing bone loss (osteoporosis). The trial aimed to see if Duavee could also reduce abnormal cell growth in breast tissue, potentially lowering the risk of invasive cancer.
Trial Design and Key Findings
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Participants: 141 postmenopausal women diagnosed with DCIS
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Intervention: Half took Duavee for one month between diagnosis and surgery; half took a placebo
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Primary Measure: Change in cell proliferation in breast tissue on the day of surgery
Patients who took Duavee showed a significant reduction in cell growth compared to those on placebo. On the day of surgery, their breast tissue demonstrated lower levels of proliferating cells, indicating a potential drop in cancer risk.
Quality of Life and Side Effects
Dr. Swati Kulkarni, a Northwestern surgeon on the trial team, noted that Duavee did not negatively affect quality of life. “There was no difference compared to placebo,” she said. Unlike many cancer drugs, Duavee did not cause intolerable side effects. Instead, it improved menopausal symptoms, which could help patients who are concerned about both cancer risk and quality of life.
Expert Commentary on Results
Dr. Kulkarni added:
“A drug designed to help women feel better during menopause may also reduce their risk of invasive breast cancer.”
Because hormone therapy can increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence, women with breast cancer often avoid it. Duavee’s ability to manage menopausal symptoms safely makes it an appealing option for those at higher risk.
Implications and Next Steps
While these findings are promising, larger trials are needed to confirm that Duavee prevents invasive breast cancer. The trial results have not yet appeared in a peer-reviewed journal but were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting.
For now, researchers say that women with DCIS, those at elevated risk for breast cancer, and patients with menopausal symptoms may benefit most from Duavee. Future studies will determine whether Duavee can become a standard option for reducing invasive breast cancer risk while also managing menopause safely.
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