Bone Substudy a Part of Tamoxifen Prevention Trial

PITTSBURGH--A study has begun to determine the effectiveness oftamoxifen (Nolvadex) in preventing osteoporosis in a group ofwomen participating in the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT),coordinated by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and BowelProject (NSABP).

The Bone Mineral Density and Biochemical Marker Study (BMDS) willinvolve 384 women (half premenopausal and half postmenopausal)randomized to receive tamoxifen or placebo.

The trial will study the effects of tamoxifen on both bone densityand biochemical markers of bone turnover over a period of at least5 years. Data on bone fractures also will be collected on theentire BCPT population of 16,000 women for at least 5 years.

"Most previous studies using tamoxifen have been in animalsor in post-menopausal women with breast cancer, a disease thatitself may affect bone loss," said Normal Wolmark, MD, ofthe NSABP Operations Office.