title: Chemosuppression of breast cancer with long-term tamoxifen therapy.
abstract: The pharmacology of the antiestrogen tamoxifen is reviewed. The drug is currently used extensively in the treatment of all stages of breast cancer and is being considered as a preventive agent for women at high risk for breast cancer. Extensive laboratory studies demonstrate that tamoxifen is a tumoristatic agent in models of mammary carcinogenesis. Any clinical applications must therefore consider long-term (5-10 years) treatment strategies. Tamoxifen prevents rat mammary carcinogenesis. However, the timing of the carcinogenic insult is unknown among women. Tamoxifen must be considered to be a chemosuppressive agent to prevent the appearance of the primary tumor rather than to prevent the initial carcinogenic insult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center, Madison 53792.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013629:Tamoxifen