Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40000769›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2025

Risk-benefits assessment of tamoxifen or raloxifene as chemoprevention for risk reduction of breast cancer among BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers: a meta-analysis.

Ameen S S Alwashmi, Najeeb Ullah Khan, Tianhui Chen

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Ameen S S AlwashmiDepartment of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Qassim, 51452, Saudi Arabia.
Najeeb Ullah KhanInstitute of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (Health Division), The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, 25130, Pakistan. najeebkhan@aup.edu.pk.
Tianhui ChenDepartment of Cancer Prevention, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China. chenth@zjcc.org.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBreast cancer is a major global health burden, with hereditary factors such as BRCA1/2 mutations significantly increasing the lifetime risk. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the outcomes of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), tamoxifen, and raloxifene as chemopreventive agents for breast cancer risk reduction in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.

methodsA meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE databases were searched for relevant studies published between 2000 and 2024. Case-control studies and observational cohort studies examining the use of tamoxifen/raloxifene in BRCA1/2 carriers were included. Data on the incidence and risk ratios of breast cancer were also extracted. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A random-effects meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (version 5.4.0).

resultsNine studies (13,676 women) were included. Two studies had low risk, and the remaining seven studies had moderate risk, as assessed by the NOS checklist. Pooled analysis showed tamoxifen/raloxifene decreased breast cancer risk compared to controls (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.88, p = 0.04). The risk ratio of breast cancer incidence among BRCA1/2 carriers was reduced after tamoxifen use (RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.48-2.23, p < 0.00001). Subgroup analysis revealed reduced breast cancer risk with SERM use in both BRCA1 (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.48-1.51) and BRCA2 carriers (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.40-1.58). The heterogeneity ranged from 51 to 85%, representing high significance and variation in true effect sizes underlying the different included studies. Whereas the heterogeneity among subgroups BRCA1 and BRCA2 was 98%, and the difference was 0%, showing no difference in response to SERM for risk reduction of breast cancer.

conclusionThis meta-analysis provides evidence that tamoxifen and raloxifene significantly reduce the breast cancer risk in women with BRCA1/2 mutations. Chemoprevention efficacy was similar for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Further research is needed to validate these findings and to optimize their use in high-risk populations.

Indexed as

BRCA1 ProteinBRCA2 ProteinBreast NeoplasmsRaloxifene HydrochlorideTamoxifenChemopreventionFemaleHeterozygoteHumansMutationRisk AssessmentSelective Estrogen Receptor ModulatorsBRCA1 ProteinBRCA1 protein, humanBRCA2 ProteinBRCA2 protein, humanRaloxifene HydrochlorideSelective Estrogen Receptor ModulatorsTamoxifenBRCA1/2Breast cancerChemopreventionRaloxifeneSelective estrogen receptor modulatorsTamoxifen

Identifiers

PMID40000769
PMCPMC11861701

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.