title: Hormonal therapy for breast cancer: focus on fulvestrant.
abstract: Fulvestrant, the first drug of the pure estrogen antagonists to be approved for clinical use, is a new therapeutic option for metastatic breast cancer. Fulvestrant offers a unique metastatic breast cancer treatment option because its mechanism of action is the destruction, rather than the blockade, of estrogen receptors. No known agonistic activity exists, limiting potential side effects and receptor exhaustion. The side effect profile of fulvestrant is related to its antiestrogen effect and includes gastrointestinal disturbance, urinary tract infection, and vaginitis. Suggestions for managing the side effects of fulvestrant are described, and a case study is provided as an illustrative aid in understanding the role of this new hormonal agent.
authors.affiliation: Linda.Versea@norwalkhealth.org
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Versea
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001141:Aromatase / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase