London, Feb 9 : Taking a popular anti-depressant could slash chances of survival for women battling breast cancer, says a new study.

Seroxat can interfere with a key breast cancer drug, say experts.

Women taking tamoxifen to fight breast tumours were less likely to survive if they also took the antidepressant, reports The Daily Express.

The researchers said the results had "major implications for clinical practice" and warned women on Seroxat to see their GP.

In the British Medical Journal study, researchers from the University of Toronto looked at 2,430 women aged over 66 who were taking tamoxifen and one of five anti-depressants. Those taking Seroxat were more likely to die from breast cancer and were slightly more likely to die from any other cause compared with women not on Seroxat.

The authors said: "Our findings indicate that the choice of anti
­depressant can significantly affect survival in women receiving tamoxifen for breast cancer."