| The chemical compound in the "abortion pill" has been | | | | percent of women with the mutated BRCA-1 gene |
| found to prevent the development of mammary | | | | develop these cancers. |
| tumors caused by the mutant gene responsible for | | | | The researchers studied mice that possessed the |
| the majority of breast and ovarian cancers, a group | | | | mutated BRCA-1 gene. Mice treated with |
| of scientists from UC Irvine reported. | | | | mifepristone, an anti-progesterone compound, did not |
| The key compound, known as mifepristone, | | | | develop mammary tumors after 12 months. All of the |
| prevented breast tumors by inhibiting the production | | | | untreated mice developed tumors by eight months |
| of progesterone. progesterone is a hormone involved | | | | of age. |
| in the female reproductive cycle which is found in the | | | | Progesterone, secreted by the ovaries, is essential to |
| tissues of the breast. The discovery may open up | | | | the term of a pregnancy. Mifepristone, also called |
| more, and far more palatable options for women | | | | RU486, is designed to abort pregnancy in the first |
| who have a genetic predisposition to developing | | | | trimester by shutting down the secretion of |
| breast and ovarian cancers. Currently, the typical | | | | progesterone and ending the viability of the fetus. In |
| prevention method relies on the surgical removal of | | | | smaller doses, it is also an emergency contraceptive. |
| breasts or ovaries for the majority of these women. | | | | UCI researchers found that progesterone encourages |
| The study is published in the December 1 issue of | | | | the development of cancer when the mutated |
| Science. | | | | BRCA-1 is exists because it increases the rate of cell |
| "We found that progesterone plays a role in the | | | | division. Mifepristone, they discovered, blocked a |
| development of breast cancer by encouraging the | | | | binding process that is necessary for progesterone to |
| proliferation of mammary cells that carry a breast | | | | cause the cells to divide. |
| cancer gene," said Eva Lee, the study's lead author | | | | Previous studies have linked high levels of |
| and a professor of developmental and cell biology | | | | progesterone with an increased risk of breast cancer. |
| and biological chemistry at UCI. "Mifepristone can | | | | This was proven to be especially true for menopausal |
| block that response. We're excited about this | | | | women who received hormone-replacement therapy |
| discovery and hope it leads to new options for | | | | that included progesterone and estrogen to ease |
| women with a high risk for developing breast cancer." | | | | things like hot flashes and night sweats. The previous |
| In the study, Lee and her colleagues addressed how | | | | findings, combined with this new data, lead scientists |
| mifepristone affects the functionality of mutated | | | | to believe that anti-progesterone could provide |
| genes called BRCA-1 genes. This group of mutated | | | | women at risk with more prevention options in the |
| genes is widely studied by cancer researchers | | | | future. |
| because a mutated version of this gene significantly | | | | The research was conducted with the backing of the |
| contributes to the development of breast and | | | | National Cancer Institute, the Breast Cancer Research |
| ovarian cancers. By the age of 70, more than 50 | | | | Foundation and the Department of Defense. |