Minerva ginecologica
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Minerva ginecologica · Dec 2009
ReviewClinical use of selective estrogen receptor modulators and down regulators with the main focus on breast cancer.
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and selective estrogen down regulators (SERDs) act as estrogen receptor (ER) agonists or antagonist depending on the targeted tissue and the specific configuration of the used SERM or SERD. Effects on bone, endometrium and breast cancer are of interest. Endocrine treatments have been used in breast cancer since the end of the 19th century. ⋯ The sequencing of endocrine therapies and the combination of endocrine therapies with new targeted therapies in hormone sensitive breast cancer remains a very important research issue. Polymorphisms in genes coding for tamoxifen metabolizing enzymes, as for instance, the CYP2D6 genotype, have the potential of becoming clinically useful predictive marker for tamoxifen response. With this meaningful newer knowledge it is possible that the place of tamoxifen in the treatment of breast cancer will be redefined in the future.