Lactation drug could reduce breast cancer risk after childbirth, study suggests
An international team of scientists has found that a lactation drug could reduce the risk of breast cancer in mothers after childbirth. Cabergoline, a medication used to stop milk production after pregnancy loss or when breastfeeding is not possible, is generally well tolerated by patients with few side effects. But it may also offer unexpected benefits.
A new study suggests that a lactation drug called cabergoline could potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer in women after childbirth. Cabergoline is commonly used to stop milk production in cases where breastfeeding is not possible or after a pregnancy loss. While it is generally well-tolerated, this drug may offer unexpected benefits as well.
The research, published in Cancer Discovery, examined health records from Spain and Norway, covering over 150,000 women. The findings revealed that women who used cabergoline to suppress milk production were around 70% less likely to develop breast cancer in the years following their childbirth compared to those who did not receive the medication.
This same result was observed in mouse studies, where a single dose of cabergoline reduced tumor incidence in mice with BRCA1 and TP53 mutations, which are linked to aggressive breast cancer forms.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among younger women, with most cases occurring during the postpartum period. The breast undergoes a process called involution after breastfeeding ends, which can sometimes be incomplete, leaving behind cells that may become cancerous. Cabergoline appears to assist in completing this natural post-weaning process by accelerating tissue remodeling, shrinking the ductal area, reducing cell growth, and boosting immune cells responsible for clearing damaged cells.
Researchers are now seeking to test cabergoline in clinical trials to determine whether the observed benefits in mice can be confirmed in humans. The study aims to recruit women with a BRCA1 mutation through high-risk clinics, allowing them to choose how long they want to breastfeed. After weaning, participants will either receive cabergoline or a placebo while researchers monitor biological markers associated with future breast cancer risk.
This promising avenue could potentially offer a safer and more effective preventive strategy for women at high risk of breast cancer compared to current options like hormone therapy or surgery, which often come with significant side effects. If successful in clinical trials, cabergoline's existing regulatory approval could facilitate its use as a breast cancer prevention strategy.
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