Aside from avoiding unwanted pregnancies, it has been found that the abortion pill RU486 is also capable of preventing the growth of breast tumors, according to a new study appearing in the journal Science. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) have demonstrated that RU486, also known as mifepristone, inhibits the production of progesterone - a hormone related to female reproduction - in mammary tissue cells. This discovery means that preventative treatments for both breast and ovarian cancers could become available for women genetically prone to these diseases.
"We found that progesterone plays a role in the development of breast cancer by encouraging the proliferation of mammary cells that carry a breast cancer gene," said Eva Lee, lead author of the study and professor of developmental and cell biology and biological chemistry at UCI. "Mifepristone can block that response. We're excited about this discovery and hope it leads to new options for women with a high risk for developing breast cancer."
The UIC's anti-progesterone findings draw upon prior research showing that high progesterone levels are linked with an increased breast cancer risk, especially amongst menopausal women exposed to hormone-replacement therapy.
Source: University Of California - Irvine
