Effects of tibolone on the breast of postmenopausal women. 2007

Peng-Hui Wang, and Ming-Huei Cheng, and Hsiang-Tai Chao, and Kuan-Chong Chao
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. phwang@vghtpe.gov.tw <phwang@vghtpe.gov.tw>

For decades, hormone therapy (HT) has been the mainstay for managing menopausal symptoms. However, the prolonged use of either single estrogen therapy (ET) or a combination therapy of estrogen and progestogen (EPT) might be associated with a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Alternative therapies that are effective in the prevention and/or treatment of menopause, having associated morbidities but no unwanted effects, are of primary interest in clinical practice. Tibolone (Livial; NV Organon, Oss, The Netherlands) is structurally related to 19-nortestosterone derivatives and is a new postmenopausal regimen with a unique pharmacological profile, licensed for the relief of climacteric symptoms and the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Tibolone exhibits weak estrogenic, progestogenic, and androgenic activities, which in theory might influence the breast. The effect of tibolone on breast tissue, however, is obscure. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of tibolone on breast safety, and the collected data include preclinical models, clinical observation, and epidemiologic study. Although in vitro studies showed conflicting results (with the majority being favorable effects) regarding the effects of tibolone on breast cells, in vivo studies showed favorable effects of tibolone on the breast in animal models. Similarly, an epidemiologic study indicated an increased risk of breast cancer when tibolone was used to manage climacteric symptoms of postmenopausal women, but accumulated data obtained from radiologic studies (mammography) showed a possible protective effect of tibolone on the breast. Taken together, we conclude that tibolone, if not superior to conventional HT, may be more acceptable to clinicians as a therapeutic drug option for use with symptomatic menopausal women. Only time will tell whether tibolone will be the preferred option.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008327 Mammography Radiographic examination of the breast. 3D-Mammography,Digital Breast Tomosynthesis,Digital Mammography,X-ray Breast Tomosynthesis,3D Mammography,3D-Mammographies,Breast Tomosyntheses, Digital,Breast Tomosyntheses, X-ray,Breast Tomosynthesis, Digital,Breast Tomosynthesis, X-ray,Digital Breast Tomosyntheses,Digital Mammographies,Mammographies,Mammographies, Digital,Mammography, Digital,X ray Breast Tomosynthesis,X-ray Breast Tomosyntheses
D009652 Norpregnenes Pregnenes with one double bond or more than three double bonds which have undergone ring contractions or are lacking carbon-18 or carbon-19..
D001940 Breast In humans, one of the paired regions in the anterior portion of the THORAX. The breasts consist of the MAMMARY GLANDS, the SKIN, the MUSCLES, the ADIPOSE TISSUE, and the CONNECTIVE TISSUES. Breasts
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015663 Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal Metabolic disorder associated with fractures of the femoral neck, vertebrae, and distal forearm. It occurs commonly in women within 15-20 years after menopause, and is caused by factors associated with menopause including estrogen deficiency. Bone Loss, Perimenopausal,Bone Loss, Postmenopausal,Perimenopausal Bone Loss,Postmenopausal Bone Loss,Postmenopausal Osteoporosis,Osteoporosis, Post-Menopausal,Bone Losses, Perimenopausal,Bone Losses, Postmenopausal,Osteoporoses, Post-Menopausal,Osteoporoses, Postmenopausal,Osteoporosis, Post Menopausal,Perimenopausal Bone Losses,Post-Menopausal Osteoporoses,Post-Menopausal Osteoporosis,Postmenopausal Bone Losses,Postmenopausal Osteoporoses
D017698 Postmenopause The physiological period following the MENOPAUSE, the permanent cessation of the menstrual life. Post-Menopause,Post-menopausal Period,Postmenopausal Period,Period, Post-menopausal,Period, Postmenopausal,Post Menopause,Post menopausal Period,Post-Menopauses
D020249 Hormone Replacement Therapy Therapeutic use of hormones to alleviate the effects of hormone deficiency. Replacement Therapy, Hormone,Therapy, Hormone Replacement,Hormone Replacement Therapies,Replacement Therapies, Hormone,Therapies, Hormone Replacement
D020847 Estrogen Receptor Modulators Substances that possess antiestrogenic actions but can also produce estrogenic effects as well. They act as complete or partial agonist or as antagonist. They can be either steroidal or nonsteroidal in structure. Antiestrogens,Antiestrogen,Estrogen Receptor Modulator,Modulator, Estrogen Receptor,Modulators, Estrogen Receptor,Receptor Modulator, Estrogen,Receptor Modulators, Estrogen

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