Toremifene for breast cancer: a review of 20 years of data.
Endocrine therapy is a cornerstone of medical treatment for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The discovery of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) > 40 years ago represented a revolutionary advance in the treatment of breast cancer. As a therapeutic class, SERMs have either estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity, depending on the target tissue and the hormonal environment. In breast tissue, SERMs are antiestrogenic, making them a major treatment option for women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer. Toremifene citrate was developed > 20 years ago with the goal of achieving efficacy similar to that of tamoxifen and with an improved safety profile. Although studies to date have not confirmed a clear safety advantage or disadvantage for toremifene, clinical data support the efficacy and safety of toremifene for the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal patients. Toremifene also has a pharmacokinetic profile and metabolic pathway different from that of tamoxifen, which may provide a therapeutic advantage in certain patients. In addition, because of the selective estrogenic effects of SERMs in bone and on lipid levels along with a different side effect profile compared with the aromatase inhibitors (AIs), toremifene is a viable option to the AIs for some patients. Despite a number of clinical trials and over 500,000 patient years of use, many oncologists have limited familiarity with toremifene data. This article will examine the rationale for the use of toremifene in the treatment of women with breast cancer and review data from 20 years of clinical experience with this agent.
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Deerfield Beach, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami FL. Electronic address: drcvogel@aol.com.
Charles L
CL
Vogel
GTx Inc, Memphis, TN.
Mary Ann
MA
Johnston
GTx Inc, Memphis, TN.
Christi
C
Capers
Prostrakan Inc, Bridgewater, NJ.
Deborah
D
Braccia
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000235:genetics; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017312:Toremifene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D017312:Toremifene; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6
Adjuvant therapy; Breast cancer hormonal therapy, CYP2D6, Selective estrogen receptor modulators; Tamoxifen