Antiestrogens: Clinical applications of pharmacology

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) appear to reduce the inciden ce of breast cancer in high-risk women. Five years of tamoxifen administrat ion after the diagnosis of breast cancer results in a 50% reduction in the incidence of contralateral breast cancer. This reduction is maintained for 5 years after therapy is discontinued. The study of Tamoxifen And Raloxifen e (STAR), presently ongoing, will address the questions of breast cancer pr evention, risk of endometrial cancer, the incidence of bone fractures, and coronary artery disease in women treated with these SERMs. (J Soc Gynecol I nvestig 2000;7:S47-8) Copyright (C) 2000 by the Society for Gynecologic Inv estigation.