scholarly journals Drug use disorder and risk of incident and fatal breast cancer: a nationwide epidemiological study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Disa Dahlman ◽  
Hedvig Magnusson ◽  
Xinjun Li ◽  
Jan Sundquist ◽  
Kristina Sundquist
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Breast Cancer Incidence ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Risk Increase ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer

Abstract Purpose Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer forms in women and it is often detected by screening. However, women with drug use disorders (DUD) are less likely to be reached by screening programs. In this study, we aimed to investigate breast cancer incidence, mortality and stage at time of diagnosis among women with DUD compared to the general female population in Sweden. Methods We performed a follow-up study based on Swedish national register data for the period January 1997–December 2015. The study was based on 3,838,248 women aged 15–75 years, of whom 50,858 were registered with DUD. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for incident and fatal breast cancer, and cancer stage at time of diagnosis, were calculated for women with and without DUD using Cox regression analysis. Results DUD was associated with incident breast cancer (HR 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.14, p = 0.0069), fatal breast cancer (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.42–1.82, p < 0.001), and stage IV breast cancer, i.e. metastasis at diagnosis (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.44–2.95, p < 0.001). Conclusions Women with DUD were identified as a risk group for incident, fatal and metastasized breast cancer, which calls for attention from clinicians and policy makers. Cancer screening attendance and other healthcare seeking barriers are likely to affect the risk increase among women who use drugs; however, more research is needed on the underlying mechanisms.

scholarly journals Prognostic factors and survival according to tumour subtype in women presenting with breast cancer bone metastases at initial diagnosis: a SEER-based study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li ◽  
Xiaoli Zhang ◽  
Shen Yin Zhong ◽  
Jie Liu
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Bone Metastases ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Significant Prognostic Factor ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer

Abstract Background: Tumour subtype has a significant effect on bone metastasis in breast cancer, but population-based estimates of the prognosis of patients with bone metastases at breast cancer diagnosis are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of tumour subtype and other factors on the prognosis and survival of patients with bone metastases of breast cancer.Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data from 2012 to 2016, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate stage IV breast cancer patients with bone metastases. Stage IV patient characteristics according to subtype were compared using chi-square tests. Overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model, respectively.Results: A total of 3384 stage IV patients were included in this study; 63.42% were HR+/HER2-, 19.86% were HR+/HER2+, 9.34% were HR-/HER2-, and 7.39% were HR-/HER2+. The median OS for the whole population was 38 months, and 33.9% of the patients were alive at five years. The median OS and five-year survival rate were significantly different among stage IV breast cancer patients with different molecular subtypes (p<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age of 55-59 (HR=1.270), black race (HR=1.317), grade III or IV (HR=1.960), HR-/HER2- (HR=2.808), lung metastases (HR=1.378), liver metastases (HR=2.085), and brain metastases (HR=1.903) were independent risk factors for prognosis; married status (HR=0.819), HR+/HER2+ (HR=0.631), HR-/HER2+ (HR=0.716), insurance (HR=0.587) and surgery (HR=0.504) were independent protection factors of prognosis. There was an interaction between the HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases, HR=0.694, 95% CI: 0.485-0.992), but the interaction between race and subtype did not reach significance for prognosis.Conclusions: There were substantial differences in OS according to tumour subtype. In addition to tumour subtype, other independent predictors of OS were age at diagnosis, race, marital status, insurance, grade, surgery and visceral metastases. There was an interaction between the HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases) for prognosis. Tumour subtype, as a significant prognostic factor, warrants further investigation.

scholarly journals Prognostic factors and survival according to tumour subtype in women presenting with breast cancer bone metastases at initial diagnosis: a SEER-based study

BMC Cancer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li ◽  
Xiaoli Zhang ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Yinzhong Shen
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Bone Metastases ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Significant Prognostic Factor ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer

Abstract Background Tumour subtype has a significant effect on bone metastasis in breast cancer, but population-based estimates of the prognosis of patients with bone metastases at breast cancer diagnosis are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of tumour subtype and other factors on the prognosis and survival of patients with bone metastases of breast cancer. Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data from 2012 to 2016, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate stage IV breast cancer patients with bone metastases. Stage IV patient characteristics according to subtype were compared using chi-square tests. Overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model, respectively. Results A total of 3384 stage IV patients were included in this study; 63.42% were HR+/HER2-, 19.86% were HR+/HER2+, 9.34% were HR−/HER2-, and 7.39% were HR−/HER2+. The median OS for the whole population was 38 months, and 33.9% of the patients were alive at 5 years. The median OS and five-year survival rate were significantly different among stage IV breast cancer patients with different molecular subtypes (p < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age of 55–59 (HR = 1.270), black race (HR = 1.317), grade III or IV (HR = 1.960), HR−/HER2- (HR = 2.808), lung metastases (HR = 1.378), liver metastases (HR = 2.085), and brain metastases (HR = 1.903) were independent risk factors for prognosis; married status (HR = 0.819), HR+/HER2+ (HR = 0.631), HR−/HER2+ (HR = 0.716), insurance (HR = 0.587) and surgery (HR = 0.504) were independent protection factors of prognosis. There was an interaction between the HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases, HR = 0.694, 95% CI: 0.485–0.992), but the interaction between race and subtype did not reach significance for prognosis. Conclusions There were substantial differences in OS according to tumour subtype. In addition to tumour subtype, other independent predictors of OS were age at diagnosis, race, marital status, insurance, grade, surgery and visceral metastases. There was an interaction between the HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases) for prognosis. Tumour subtype, as a significant prognostic factor, warrants further investigation.

scholarly journals Prognostic factors and survival according to tumour subtype in women presenting with breast cancer bone metastases at initial diagnosis: a SEER based study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li ◽  
Xiaoli Zhang ◽  
Jie Liu
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Prognostic Factor ◽  
Bone Metastases ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Significant Prognostic Factor ◽  
Cancer Stage ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer

Abstract Introduction : Tumour subtype have a significant effect on bone metastasis in breast cancer, but population-based estimates of the prognosis of bone metastases at diagnosis of breast cancer are lacking.The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of tumour subtype and other factors in the prognostic and survival of patients with bone metastases of stage IV breast cancer. Methods : Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) data of 2012 to 2016 conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate stage IV patients with bone metastases in breast cancer. Stage IV Patients characteristic according subtype were compared using chi-square, overall survival (OS), prognostic factor calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results : A total of 3384 stage IV patients were included in this study. 63.42% were HR+/HER2-, 19.86% were HR+/HER2+, 9.34% were HR-/HER2-, and 7.39% were HR-/HER2+. Median OS for the whole population was 38 months, 33.9% of the patients were alive at five-year. The median OS and five-year survival rate among the different subtype of breast cancer stage IV patients are significant differences ( p <0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age of 55-59 (HR=1.270 ), black race (HR=1.317 ), grade in III/IV ( HR=1.960 ), HR-/HER2- (HR=2.808 ), lung metastases (HR=1.378 ), live metastases ( HR= 2.085 ), brain metastases (HR=1.903 ) are independent risk factors of prognosis; married ( HR=0.819 ), HR+/HER2+ (HR= 0.631 ), HR-/HER2+ (HR= 0.716 ), insurance ( HR=0.587 ) and surgery (HR=0.504 ) are independent protection factors of prognosis. There is interaction between HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases , HR=0.694 , 95%CI: 0.485 -0.992 on prognosis. Conclusions : There were substantial differences in OS according to tumour subtype. In addition to tumour subtype, other independent predictors of OS are age at diagnosis, race, marital status, insurance, grade, surgery and visceral metastases. There is interaction between HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases ）on prognosis. Tumour subtype, as a significant prognostic factor, warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals Prognostic factors and survival according to tumour subtype in women presenting with breast cancer bone metastases at initial diagnosis: a SEER-based study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li ◽  
XiaoLi Zhang ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Shen Yin Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Bone Metastases ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Significant Prognostic Factor ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer

Abstract Background: Tumour subtype has a significant effect on bone metastasis in breast cancer, but population-based estimates of the prognosis of patients with bone metastases at breast cancer diagnosis are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of tumour subtype and other factors on the prognosis and survival of patients with bone metastases of breast cancer.Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data from 2012 to 2016, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate stage IV breast cancer patients with bone metastases. Stage IV patient characteristics according to subtype were compared using chi-square tests. Overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model, respectively.Results: A total of 3384 stage IV patients were included in this study; 63.42% were HR+/HER2-, 19.86% were HR+/HER2+, 9.34% were HR-/HER2-, and 7.39% were HR-/HER2+. The median OS for the whole population was 38 months, and 33.9% of the patients were alive at five years. The median OS and five-year survival rate were significantly different among stage IV breast cancer patients with different molecular subtypes (p<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age of 55-59 (HR=1.270), black race (HR=1.317), grade III or IV (HR=1.960), HR-/HER2- (HR=2.808), lung metastases (HR=1.378), liver metastases (HR=2.085), and brain metastases (HR=1.903) were independent risk factors for prognosis; married status (HR=0.819), HR+/HER2+ (HR=0.631), HR-/HER2+ (HR=0.716), insurance (HR=0.587) and surgery (HR=0.504) were independent protection factors of prognosis. There was an interaction between the HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases, HR=0.694, 95% CI: 0.485-0.992), but the interaction between race and subtype did not reach significance for prognosis.Conclusions: There were substantial differences in OS according to tumour subtype. In addition to tumour subtype, other independent predictors of OS were age at diagnosis, race, marital status, insurance, grade, surgery and visceral metastases. There was an interaction between the HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases) for prognosis. Tumour subtype, as a significant prognostic factor, warrants further investigation.

Breast Cancer

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy E Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
United States ◽  
Cancer Incidence ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Breast Cancer Incidence ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer ◽  
Incidence And Mortality

Invasive breast cancer, the most common nonskin cancer in women in the United States, will be diagnosed in 266,120 In 2018, along with 63,960 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. Incidence and mortality reached a plateau and appear to be dropping in both the United States and parts of western Europe. This decline has been attributed to several factors, such as early detection through the use of screening mammography and appropriate use of systemic adjuvant therapy, as well as decreased use of hormone replacement therapy. However, the global burden of breast cancer remains great, and global breast cancer incidence increased from 641,000 in 1980 to 1,643,000 in 2010, an annual rate of increase of 3.1%. This chapter examines the etiology, epidemiology, prevention, screening, staging, and prognosis of breast cancer. The diagnoses and treatments of the four stages of breast cancer are also included. Figures include algorithms used for the systemic treatment of stage IV breast cancer and hormone therapy for women with stage IV breast cancer. Tables describe selected outcomes from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) P-1 and P-2 chemoprevention trials, tamoxifen chemoprevention trials for breast cancer, the TNM staging system and stage groupings for breast cancer, some commonly used adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, an algorithm for suggested treatment for patients with operable breast cancer from the 2011 St. Gallen consensus conference, guidelines for surveillance of asymptomatic early breast cancer survivors from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and newer agents for metastatic breast cancer commercially available in the United States. This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 8 tables, and 108 references.

Breast Cancer

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy E Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
United States ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Breast Cancer Incidence ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer ◽  
Incidence And Mortality

Invasive breast cancer, the most common nonskin cancer in women in the United States, will be diagnosed in 235,000 women in this country in 2013 and is expected to result in approximately 40,000 deaths. Incidence and mortality reached a plateau and appear to be dropping in both the United States and parts of western Europe. This decline has been attributed to several factors, such as early detection through the use of screening mammography and appropriate use of systemic adjuvant therapy, as well as decreased use of hormone replacement therapy. However, the global burden of breast cancer remains great, and global breast cancer incidence increased from 641,000 in 1980 to 1,643,000 in 2010, an annual rate of increase of 3.1%. This chapter examines the etiology, epidemiology, prevention, screening, staging, and prognosis of breast cancer. The diagnoses and treatments of the four stages of breast cancer are also included. Figures include algorithms used for the systemic treatment of stage IV breast cancer and hormone therapy for women with stage IV breast cancer. Tables describe selected outcomes from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) P-1 and P-2 chemoprevention trials, tamoxifen chemoprevention trials for breast cancer, the TNM staging system and stage groupings for breast cancer, some commonly used adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, an algorithm for suggested treatment for patients with operable breast cancer from the 2011 St. Gallen consensus conference, guidelines for surveillance of asymptomatic early breast cancer survivors from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and newer agents for metastatic breast cancer commercially available in the United States. This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 8 tables, and 108 references.

scholarly journals Prognostic factors and survival according to tumour subtype in women presenting with breast cancer bone metastases at initial diagnosis: a SEER based study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li ◽  
Xiaoli Zhang ◽  
Jie Liu
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Prognostic Factor ◽  
Bone Metastases ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Molecular Subtype ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Significant Prognostic Factor ◽  
Cancer Stage ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis

Abstract Background : Tumour subtype have a significant effect on bone metastasis in breast cancer, but population-based estimates of the prognosis of bone metastases at diagnosis of breast cancer are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of tumour subtype and other factors in the prognostic and survival of patients with bone metastases of breast cancer. Methods : Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) data of 2012 to 2016 conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate stage IV patients with bone metastases in breast cancer. Stage IV Patients characteristic according subtype were compared using chi-square, overall survival (OS), prognostic factor calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results : A total of 3384 stage IV patients were included in this study. 63.42% were HR+/HER2-, 19.86% were HR+/HER2+, 9.34% were HR-/HER2-, and 7.39% were HR-/HER2+. Median OS for the whole population was 38 months, and 33.9% of the patients were alive at five-year. The median OS and five-year survival rate among the different molecular subtype of breast cancer stage IV patients are significant differences ( p <0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age of 55-59 (HR=1.270 ), black race ( HR=1.317 ), grade in III or IV ( HR=1.960 ), HR-/HER2- (HR=2.808), lung metastases (HR=1.378), live metastases (HR=2.085), brain metastases (HR=1.903) are independent risk factors of prognosis; married (HR=0.819 ), HR+/HER2+ (HR=0.631 ), HR-/HER2+ (HR=0.716), insurance (HR=0.587 ) and surgery (HR=0.504) are independent protection factors of prognosis. There is interaction between HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases, HR=0.694, 95%CI: 0.485-0.992）,but interaction between race and substype did not reach significance on prognosis. Conclusions : There were substantial differences in OS according to tumour subtype. In addition to tumour subtype, other independent predictors of OS are age at diagnosis, race, marital status, insurance, grade, surgery and visceral metastases. There is interaction between HR+/HER2+ subtype and other metastases (except bone metastases) on prognosis. Tumour subtype, as a significant prognostic factor, warrant further investigation. Keywords : Breast cancer, Bone metastases, Tumour subtype, Prognosis factor, Survival

Breast Cancer

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy E Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
United States ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Breast Cancer Incidence ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer ◽  
Incidence And Mortality

Invasive breast cancer, the most common nonskin cancer in women in the United States, will be diagnosed in 235,000 women in this country in 2013 and is expected to result in approximately 40,000 deaths. Incidence and mortality reached a plateau and appear to be dropping in both the United States and parts of western Europe. This decline has been attributed to several factors, such as early detection through the use of screening mammography and appropriate use of systemic adjuvant therapy, as well as decreased use of hormone replacement therapy. However, the global burden of breast cancer remains great, and global breast cancer incidence increased from 641,000 in 1980 to 1,643,000 in 2010, an annual rate of increase of 3.1%. This chapter examines the etiology, epidemiology, prevention, screening, staging, and prognosis of breast cancer. The diagnoses and treatments of the four stages of breast cancer are also included. Figures include algorithms used for the systemic treatment of stage IV breast cancer and hormone therapy for women with stage IV breast cancer. Tables describe selected outcomes from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) P-1 and P-2 chemoprevention trials, tamoxifen chemoprevention trials for breast cancer, the TNM staging system and stage groupings for breast cancer, some commonly used adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, an algorithm for suggested treatment for patients with operable breast cancer from the 2011 St. Gallen consensus conference, guidelines for surveillance of asymptomatic early breast cancer survivors from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and newer agents for metastatic breast cancer commercially available in the United States. This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 8 tables, and 108 references.

Impact of mastectomy in women with stage IV HER2+ breast cancer.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e12515-e12515
Author(s):  
Arslan Babar ◽  
Fahrettin Covut ◽  
Tariq Zuheir Kewan ◽  
Shafia Rahman ◽  
Stephen R. Grobmyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Cleveland Clinic ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Breast Radiotherapy ◽  
Her2 Breast Cancer ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer

e12515 Background: Women with stage IV HER2+ breast cancer typically have longer overall survival (OS) compared to other breast cancer subsets due to the effectiveness of dual anti HER-2 antibody therapy. The role of mastectomy remains controversial. Methods: We reviewed patients who were diagnosed with stage IV HER2+ breast cancer between 2/2015 and 12/2017 at Cleveland Clinic. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and compared by the log-rank test. Univariable and multivariable analysis were performed using Cox regression to identify predictors of OS. Results: We identified 47 patients, with a median age of 58 (range: 22 – 87). Twenty-eight (60%) and 14 (30%) patients had ER+ and PR+ disease, respectively. Four patients had brain metastasis at time of stage IV diagnosis. All patients received systemic therapy. 17 (36%) patients underwent mastectomy after diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer,. Of the 30 (64%) patients who did not undergo mastectomy, 24 (80%), 2 (7%), and 4 (13%) were treated with both chemotherapy and HER2-directed therapy, chemotherapy alone, and HER2-directed therapy alone, respectively. Breast radiotherapy was performed on 9 (53%) and 8 (27%) patients in mastectomy and no mastectomy cohorts, respectively. Median follow-up time was 22 months . The two-year OS for mastectomy and no mastectomy cohorts were 94% (95% CI: 83 – 100) and 50% (95% CI: 33 – 76), respectively (p=0.009). On univariable analysis, only mastectomy vs no mastectomy (HR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04 – 0.80, p=0.025) predicted OS. On multivariable analysis, mastectomy vs no mastectomy has remained to be statistically significant predictor of OS (HR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01 – 0.66, p=0.019), whereas age, chemotherapy, HER2-directed therapy, and breast radiation were not independent predictors of improved OS (p>0.05). Conclusions: In our cohort, mastectomy was an independent predictor of longer OS in women with stage IV HER2+ breast cancer.

scholarly journals 50th anniversary of the first clinical trial with ICI 46,474 (tamoxifen): then what happened?

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. R11-R30
Author(s):  
V Craig Jordan
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Breast Cancer Incidence ◽  
50Th Anniversary ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Radium Institute ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer ◽  
The World

Following the discovery and approval of the oral contraceptive, the pharmaceutical industry sought new opportunities for the regulation of reproduction. The discovery of the first non-steroidal anti-oestrogen MER25, with antifertility properties in laboratory animals, started a search for ‘morning-after pills’. There were multiple options in the 1960s, however, one compound ICI 46,474 was investigated, but found to induce ovulation in subfertile women. A second option was to treat stage IV breast cancer. Although the patent for ICI 46,474 was awarded in the early 1960s in the UK and around the world, a patent in the USA was denied on the basis that the claims for breast cancer treatment were not supported by evidence. A trial at the Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute in Manchester, published in 1971, showed activity compared with alternatives: high-dose oestrogen or androgen treatment, but the US Patent Office was unswayed until 1985! The future of tamoxifen to be, was in the balance in 1972 but the project went forward as an orphan drug looking for applications and a translational research strategy was needed. Today, tamoxifen is known as the first targeted therapy in cancer with successful applications to treat all stages of breast cancer, male breast cancer, and the first medicine for the reduction of breast cancer incidence in high-risk pre- and post-menopausal women. This is the unlikely story of how an orphan medicine changed medical practice around the world, with millions of women’s lives extended.

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