Related Pages Breast Cancer Home Page NCI's gateway for information about breast cancer. U.S. Task Force: Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued two recommendations concerning the use of prescription medicines such as tamoxifen in the prevention of breast cancer. Estrogen Receptors, Tamoxifen, and Raloxifene Describes the hormone estrogen and its receptor. Explains the relationship of estrogen and its receptor to breast cancer and the risks and benefits of reducing cancer risk with drugs called antiestrogens and selective estrogen receptor molecules (SERMs).

One of the largest breast cancer prevention studies ever, the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, or STAR trial, is underway at more than 500 centers across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The trial includes more than 19,000 postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer and will determine whether the osteoporosis prevention drug raloxifene (Evista®) is as effective in reducing the chance of developing breast cancer as tamoxifen (Nolvadex®).

The trial is closed to further enrollment. Researchers hope to announce results from the trial sometime in 2005.

For more information about STAR:

• In the United States (including Puerto Rico), call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) for information in English or Spanish. The number for callers with TTY equipment is 1-800-332-8615.
  
  
• In Canada, call the Canadian Cancer Society's Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333 for information in English or French.
  
  
• The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) maintains a Web page with information about STAR, including a list of participating sites.

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