Celecoxib Breast Study

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women causing 40,000 deaths yearly in the Unites States. Mammographic density correlates with over four-fold increase risk for breast cancer for women who have extremely dense breasts, making it a significant risk factor for this disease. Breast density is routinely categorized into one of four density categories by the interpreting radiologist during clinical mammographic interpretation, however there is both intra- and inter-observer variation in the visually estimated mammographic breast density. Recently-developed MRI methods have the ability to provide quantitative measures of the volume and percentage of fibroglandular tissue present allowing for a more stratified and less subjective measure of breast density. High breast density has been correlated to higher amounts of collagen fibers in the breast tissue. Recent findings suggest that the increase in collagen in the breast cancer tumor micro-environment may relate to increased levels of COX-2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work by inhibiting cyclooxygenases, blocking the body’s production of fever, pain and inflammation and some are specific in targeting COX-2 like the drug celecoxib. The goal of this study is to quantitatively assess a subject’s breast density using MRI pre and post treatment with Celecoxib. Quantitative MR values as well as changes due to Celecoxib treatment will be correlated with histological markers including collagen fiber, COX-2 levels, and other histological markers of tumor grade, proliferation, and aggressiveness.