New drug could prevent second breast cancers

A group of Italian researchers has called for the testing of a drug which they believe could help prevent the development of secondary breast cancer.

Fenretinide can significantly cut the risk among pre-menopausal women, the scientists publishing their findings online in the Annals of Oncology claimed today, after basing their study on a 15-year old survey.

They discovered that cases of second breast cancers in a control group of initial cancer sufferers were 38 per cent higher than among those taking fenretinide, leading them to confidently suggest that the link between breast cancer and the drug was not coincidental.

“This evidence provides a rationale for a new trial in young women at high risk of breast cancer,” said Professor Umberto Veronesi, who led the research at Milan’s Istituto Nazionale Tumori.

“However, the magnitude of the effect, and the finding that the younger the woman the greater was the benefit, is so striking that we believe it is likely to be real.”

Fenretinide appears to work by forcing breast cells in danger of spiralling out of control to behave more normally and by helping to induce normal cell deaths in cancerous cells. Despite showing promising signs, the Italian study suggests that pharmaceutical companies have been reluctant to invest in its development because problems exist with the stability of its formulation.

But with a new report published earlier this week suggesting that established drugs treating breast cancer like herceptin are straining the budgets of European health organisations, funding may soon become available to investigate potential alternatives.

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