title: Endocrine therapy for breast cancer: an overview.
abstract: Endocrine therapy for breast cancer has been established in the adjuvant treatment for primary disease and in the treatment of advanced disease. The ER remains the best predictor of response although other factors exist and need to be identified. Pharmacological manipulation has been replacing ablative procedures. Tamoxifen used to be the most popular agent of choice and promising new agents include the pure anti-oestrogens and the third generation selective aromatase inhibitors. Ongoing and future studies will optimise treatment in established areas and will exploit its potential roles in preoperative use and chemoprevention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast Surgery, University of Nottingham, City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK. kl.cheung@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators