Black cohosh increases metastatic mammary cancer in transgenic mice expressing c-erbB2.
Abstract
Black cohosh is an herbal extract that is often used as an alternative to estrogen-based
replacement therapies to treat hot flushes that frequently accompany the transition
to menopause. Although cancer-free women as well as breast cancer patients and survivors
use black cohosh to relieve vasomotor symptoms, there is limited information on its
potential to influence breast cancer development or progression. Therefore, in this
study, the effects of black cohosh on mammary tumorigenesis were investigated in the
MMTV-neu mouse model due to its similarities to HER2(+) breast cancer, including stochastic
development of mammary tumors, which frequently progress to metastatic disease. Using
an adjusted dose for the mice to correlate to the recommended dose in women (40 mg/d),
no differences were detected in the incidence or onset of mammary tumors in black
cohosh-treated versus control females. The lack of effect on mammary tumor development
suggests that black cohosh would not influence breast cancer risk if given to women
before tumor formation. In contrast, black cohosh significantly increased the incidence
of lung metastases in tumor-bearing animals compared with mice fed the isoflavone-free
control diet. Additional studies will be needed to correlate these findings to women
taking different black cohosh products at various times during breast cancer development;
however, these results suggest caution for women using black cohosh, especially for
extended periods of time. As metastatic progression is linked to patient survival,
these data stress the importance of investigating how women's therapies influence
all stages of mammary tumorigenesis, particularly for assessing their safety.
Type
Journal articleSubject
AnimalsMice, Transgenic
Mice
Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse
Cimicifuga
Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental
Lung Neoplasms
Estradiol
Receptor, erbB-2
Time Factors
Female
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/17139Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-1812Publication Info
Davis, Vicki L; Jayo, Manuel J; Ho, Arline; Kotlarczyk, Mary P; Hardy, Mary L; Foster,
Warren G; & Hughes, Claude L (2008). Black cohosh increases metastatic mammary cancer in transgenic mice expressing c-erbB2.
Cancer research, 68(20). 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-1812. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/17139.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Claude Lebernian Hughes Jr.
Consulting Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

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