Anti-oestrogenic chemoprevention of breast cancer-the need to progress.
Clinical trials of the selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM), tamoxifen, have shown an early reduction in risk of breast cancer in healthy women of approximately 40%, but with associated risks and benefits to normal tissues. An overall clinical benefit and the identification of the women at risk of breast cancer who may gain benefit from tamoxifen has not been clearly established. The identification of those women at risk who are most likely to gain benefit, and the development of other SERMs and aromatase inhibitors which might be more active and have a more beneficial spectrum of activity on normal tissues in healthy women is essential, if the aim of preventing breast cancer in healthy women is to be achieved.
Powles
Trevor J
TJ
Royal Marsden Hospital, Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK. trevor.powles@rmh.nthames.nhs.uk
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride