Hormone Therapy in Breast Cancer

Chirurgia (Bucur). 2017 Jul-Aug;112(4):413-417. doi: 10.21614/chirurgia.112.4.413.

Abstract

Hormonal therapy is mandatory for all patients with hormonereceptor- positive breast neoplasms. It is active both in adjuvant and metastatic disease. The only active adjuvant hormonal therapy in pre- and postmenopause is Tamoxifen. The adjuvant treatment duration influences disease-free survival, the risk of a contralateral breast cancer apparition and overall survival. The aromatase inhibitors: Anastrozol, Letrozol, Exemestan are only used in postmenopause. Fulvestrant is used in recurrent disease after or during treatment with Tamoxifen. LHRH analogues are used in premenopausal patients in adjuvantcy and sometimes in case of recurrences. Around 50% of hormonereceptor- positive breast neoplasms are or become resistant to hormone therapy. Some molecules involved in some tumour cellular growth pathways reverse the resistance to hormone therapy (Palbociclib, Everolimus).

Keywords: Anastrozol; Everolimus; Exemestan; Fulvestrant; LHRHanalogues; Letrozol; Palbociclib; Tamoxifen.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Estradiol / administration & dosage
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives
  • Female
  • Fulvestrant
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / analogs & derivatives
  • Humans
  • Postmenopause*
  • Premenopause*
  • Quality of Life
  • Tamoxifen / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Tamoxifen
  • Fulvestrant
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Estradiol