Abstract
The safety profile of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on breast is still controversial. Tibolone is an option of treatment for climacteric syndrome of postmenopausal women. Its risk profile on breast is debated. This is an updated narrative review focusing on the impact of tibolone on breast. Particularly, we will report data from major preclinical and clinical studies regarding the effects of the use of this compound on breast tissue and breast density. Moreover, we will analyze and discuss the most relevant findings of the principal studies evaluating the relationship between tibolone and breast cancer risk. Our purpose is making all clinicians who are particularly involved in women’s health more aware of the effects of this compound on breast and, thus, more experienced in the management of menopausal symptoms with this drug. According to the available literature, tibolone seems to be characterized by an interesting safety profile on breast tissue.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
Not applicable.
Code Availability
Not applicable.
References
Rossouw JE, Anderson GL, Prentice RL, AZ LC, Kooperberg C, Stefanick ML, Jackson RD, Beresford SA, Howard BV, Johnson KC, Kotchen JM, Ockene J, Writing Group for the Women’s Health Initiative Investigators.; Writing Group for the Women’s Health Initiative Investigators. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results from the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288(3):321–33. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.3.321.
The NAMS. The 2017 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2017;24(7):728–53.
Kloosterboer HJ. Tissue-selective effects of tibolone on the breast. Maturitas. 2004;49(1):S5–S15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2004.06.022.
Kloosterboer HJ, Schoonen WG, Deckers GH, Klijn JG. Effects of progestagens and Org OD14 in in vitro and in vivo tumor models. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1994;49(4-6):311–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-0760(94)90273-9.
Gompel A, Chaouat M, Jacob D, Perrot JY, Kloosterboer HJ, Rostene W. In vitro studies of tibolone in breast cells. Fertil Steril. 2002;78(2):351–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(02)03203-x.
Pasqualini JR, Chetrite GS. Estrone sulfatase versus estrone sulfotransferase in human breast cancer: potential clinical applications. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1999;69(1-6):287–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-0760(99)00082-5.
de Gooyer ME, Kleyn GT, Smits KC, Ederveen AG, Verheul HA, Kloosterboer HJ. Tibolone: a compound with tissue specific inhibitory effects on sulfatase. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2001;183(1-2):55–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0303-7207(01)00606-2.
Kandouz M, Lombet A, Perrot JY, Jacob D, Carvajal S, Kazem A, Rostene W, Therwath A, Gompel A. Proapoptotic effects of antiestrogens, progestins and androgen in breast cancer cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1999;69(1-6):463–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-0760(99)00069-2.
Chetrite G, Kloosterboer HJ, Pasqualini JR. Effect of tibolone (Org OD14) and its metabolites on estrone sulphatase activity in MCF-7 and T-47D mammary cancer cells. Anticancer Res. 1997;17(1A):135–40.
Biglia N, Maffei S, Lello S, Nappi RE. Tibolone in postmenopausal women: a review based on recent randomised controlled clinical trials. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2010;26(11):804–14. https://doi.org/10.3109/09513590.2010.495437.
Kloosterboer HJ. Tibolone: a steroid with a tissue-specific mode of action. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2001;76(1-5):231–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-0760(01)00044-9.
Cline JM, Register TC, Clarkson TB. Effects of tibolone and hormone replacement therapy on the breast of cynomolgus monkeys. Menopause. 2002;9(6):422–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/00042192-200211000-00007.
Desreux J, Kloosterboer H, Noël A, Frankenne F, Lemaire M, Putman M, Foidart JM. Effects of tibolone on sulfatase pathway of estrogens metabolism and on growth of MCF-7 human breast tumors implanted in ovariectomized nude mice. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2007;63(1):31–8. https://doi.org/10.1159/000094917.
Reed MJ, Kloosterboer HJ. Tibolone: a selective tissue estrogenic activity regulator (STEAR). Maturitas. 2004;48(Suppl 1):S4–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2004.02.013.
de Gooyer ME, Deckers GH, Schoonen WG, Verheul HA, Kloosterboer HJ. Receptor profiling and endocrine interactions of tibolone. Steroids. 2003;68(1):21–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0039-128x(02)00112-5.
Wolfe JN. Breast patterns as an index of risk for developing breast cancer. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1976;126(6):1130–7. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.126.6.1130.
Boyd NF. Mammographic density and risk of breast cancer. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1200/EdBook_AM.2013.33.e57.
Tice JA, Bissell MCS, Miglioretti DL, Gard CC, Rauscher GH, Dabbous FM, Kerlikowske K. Validation of the breast cancer surveillance consortium model of breast cancer risk. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2019;175(2):519–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-019-05167-2.
Tyrer J, Duffy SW, Cuzick J. A breast cancer prediction model incorporating familial and personal risk factors. Stat Med. 2004;23(7):1111–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.1668.
McNicholas MM, Heneghan JP, Milner MH, Tunney T, Hourihane JB, MacErlaine DP. Pain and increased mammographic density in women receiving hormone replacement therapy: a prospective study. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1994;163(2):311–5. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.163.2.8037021.
Leung W, Goldberg F, Zee B, Sterns E. Mammographic density in women on postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. Surgery. 1997;122(4):669–73; discussion 673-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0039-6060(97)90072-6.
Rutter CM, Mandelson MT, Laya MB, Seger DJ, Taplin S. Changes in breast density associated with initiation, discontinuation, and continuing use of hormone replacement therapy. JAMA. 2001;285(2):171–6. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.285.2.171.
Freer PE. Mammographic breast density: impact on breast cancer risk and implications for screening. Radiographics. 2015;35(2):302–15. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.352140106.
Fajardo LL, Hillman BJ, Frey C. Correlation between breast parenchymal patterns and mammographers’ certainty of diagnosis. Invest Radiol. 1988;23(7):505–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004424-198807000-00004.
Kerlikowske K, Grady D, Barclay J, Frankel SD, Ominsky SH, Sickles EA, Ernster V. Variability and accuracy in mammographic interpretation using the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998;90(23):1801–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/90.23.1801.
Kloosterboer HJ. Tissue-selectivity: the mechanism of action of tibolone. Maturitas. 2004;48(Suppl 1):S30–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2004.02.012.
Erel CT, Elter K, Akman C, Ersavasti G, Altug A, Seyisoglu H, Ertungealp E. Mammographic changes in women receiving tibolone therapy. Fertil Steril. 1998;69(5):870–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(98)00051-x.
Ozdemir A, Konuş O, Nas T, Erbaş G, Coşar S, Işik S. Mammographic and ultrasonographic study of changes in the breast related to HRT. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1999;67(1):23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0020-7292(99)00102-2.
Valdivia I, Ortega D. Mammographic density in postmenopausal women treated with tibolone, estriol or conventional hormone replacement therapy. Clin Drug Investig. 2000;20(2):101–7. https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200020020-00005.
Wolfe JN. Risk for breast cancer development determined by mammographic parenchymal pattern. Cancer. 1976;37(5):2486–92.
Colacurci N, Fornaro F, De Franciscis P, Palermo M, del Vecchio W. Effects of different types of hormone replacement therapy on mammographic density. Maturitas. 2001;40(2):159–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-5122(01)00232-8.
Lundström E, Christow A, Kersemaekers W, Svane G, Azavedo E, Söderqvist G, Mol-Arts M, Barkfeldt J, von Schoultz B. Effects of tibolone and continuous combined hormone replacement therapy on mammographic breast density. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002;186(4):717–22. https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2002.121896.
Bruce D, Robinson J, McWilliams S, Reddy M, Fentiman I, Rymer J. Long-term effects of tibolone on mammographic density. Fertil Steril. 2004;82(5):1343–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.03.063.
Beral V, Million Women Study Collaborators. Breast cancer and hormone-replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. Lancet. 2003;362(9382):419–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(03)14065-2.
Whitehead M, Farmer R. The million women study: a critique. Endocrine. 2004;24(3):187–93. https://doi.org/10.1385/ENDO:24:3:187.
Velthuis-Te Wierik EJ, Hendricks PT, Martinez C. Preferential prescribing of tibolone and combined estrogen plus progestogen therapy in postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2007;14(3 Pt 1):518–27. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.gme.0000247012.54468.75.
Suissa S, Opatrny L. Commentary on ‘Hormone replacement therapy use and variations in the risk of breast cancer’. BJOG. 2008;115(7):918. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.01733.x.
Opatrny L, Dell’Aniello S, Assouline S, Suissa S. Hormone replacement therapy use and variations in the risk of breast cancer. BJOG. 2008;115(2):169–75; discussion 175. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01520.x.
Sismondi P, Kimmig R, Kubista E, Biglia N, Egberts J, Mulder R, Planellas J, Moggio G, Mol-Arts M, Kenemans P. Effects of tibolone on climacteric symptoms and quality of life in breast cancer patients—data from LIBERATE trial. Maturitas. 2011;70(4):365–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.09.003.
Formoso G, Perrone E, Maltoni S, Balduzzi S, Wilkinson J, Basevi V, Marata AM, Magrini N, D’Amico R, Bassi C, Maestri E. Short-term and long-term effects of tibolone in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;10(10):CD008536. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008536.pub3.
Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Type and timing of menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer risk: individual participant meta-analysis of the worldwide epidemiological evidence. Lancet. 2019;394:1159–68.
International Menopause Society. Comment on: Type and timing of menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer risk: individual participant metaanalysis of the worldwide epidemiological evidence [Internet]. 2019. [cited 2020 Mar 22]. Available from: https://www.imsociety.org/manage/images/pdf/5054afeb9b1bc763032333443f1c0bed.pdf.
Vinogradova Y, Coupland C, Hippisley-Cox J. Use of hormone replacement therapy and risk of breast cancer: nested case-control studies using the QResearch and CPRD databases. BMJ. 2020;371:m3873. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3873.
Baek JK, Kim HI, Kang MJ, Seon KE, Kim EH, Seo SK. Relationship between the type of hormone replacement therapy and incidence of breast cancer in Korea. Climacteric. 2022;25(5):516–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2022.2077096.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
The authors contributed equally to this article.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics Approval
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. The study was a literature review; thus, it did not require the approval of a specific Institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee.
Consent to Participate
Not applicable.
Consent for Publication
Not applicable.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Lello, S., Capozzi, A., Scambia, G. et al. Tibolone and Breast Tissue: a Review. Reprod. Sci. 30, 3403–3409 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-023-01295-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-023-01295-9