Anti-estrogens, which are normally used to treat diseases such as breast cancer and other diseases brought on by , may offer protection against lung cancer-induced death.
According to a study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, women who were being treated for breast cancer with anti-estrogens had a reduced risk of dying from lung cancer.
The study examined 6,715 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1980 and 2003. Of these women, 46 percent were being treated with an anti-estrogen therapy, most noticeably, tamoxifen.
Of all of the subjects, 40 women were diagnosed with lung cancer by the completion of the study. Their diagnosis had no significance to whether they were receiving anti-estrogens or not, the mortality rate from the disease was significantly lower in those receiving the therapy.
Even though initial results may be promising, the studys researchers are currently looking into the next phase of the study to determine if anti-estrogen therapy could really be used as an alternative treatment to lung cancer.