Raloxifene in breast cancer prevention.
BACKGROUND
Raloxifene is a benzothiophene, selective estrogen receptor modulator with estrogen-agonist effects in the skeleton and the cardiovascular system but estrogen-antagonist effects in the uterus and the mammary gland. This compound was first approved in different countries for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.


OBJECTIVE
We performed a literature search to review available preclinical and clinical data that has led to the recent FDA approval of raloxifene as a chemopreventive agent for breast cancer in postmenopausal women.


CONCLUSIONS
Different placebo-controlled trials indicated that raloxifene is effective in reducing invasive breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. In a recent comparative study, a similar efficacy between raloxifene and tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention was demonstrated, but raloxifene showed a more favorable safety profile.
Gennari
Luigi
L
University of Siena, Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine-Metabolic Sciences and Biochemistry, Viale Bracci 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. gennari@unisi.it
Merlotti
Daniela
D
Paola
Vincenzo De
VD
Nuti
Ranuccio
R
D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017698:Postmenopause; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride