Originally published as JCO Early Release 10.1200/JCO.2007.11.3886 on September 24 2007

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Selective Estrogen-Receptor Modulators and Antihormonal Resistance in Breast Cancer

V. Craig Jordan, Bert W. O'Malley

From the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Address reprint requests to V. Craig Jordan, OBE, PhD, DSc, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497; e-mail: v.craig.jordan{at}fccc.edu

Selective estrogen-receptor (ER) modulators (SERMs) are synthetic nonsteroidal compounds that switch on and switch off target sites throughout the body. Tamoxifen, the pioneering SERM, blocks estrogen action by binding to the ER in breast cancers. Tamoxifen has been used ubiquitously in clinical practice during the last 30 years for the treatment of breast cancer and is currently available to reduce the risk of breast cancer in high-risk women. Raloxifene maintains bone density (estrogen-like effect) in postmenopausal osteoporotic women, but at the same time reduces the incidence of breast cancer in both high- and low-risk (osteoporotic) postmenopausal women. Unlike tamoxifen, raloxifene does not increase the incidence of endometrial cancer. Clearly, the simple ER model of estrogen action can no longer be used to explain SERM action at different sites around the body. Instead, a new model has evolved on the basis of the discovery of protein partners that modulate estrogen action at distinct target sites. Coactivators are the principal players that assemble a complex of functional proteins around the ligand ER complex to initiate transcription of a target gene at its promoter site. A promiscuous SERM ER complex creates a stimulatory signal in growth factor receptor–rich breast or endometrial cancer cells. These events cause drug-resistant, SERM-stimulated growth. The sometimes surprising pharmacology of SERMs has resulted in a growing interest in the development of new selective medicines for other members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. This will allow the precise treatment of diseases that was previously considered impossible.

published online ahead of print at www.jco.org on September 24, 2007.

Supported by the Department of Defense Breast Program under award number BC050277 Center of Excellence, SPORE in Breast Cancer CA 89018, R01 GM067156, FCCC Core Grant, NIH P30 CA006927, the Avon Foundation, and the Weg Fund of Fox Chase Cancer Center (V.J.C.); and National Institute of Health grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and Nuclear Receptor Signaling Atlas (B.W.O.).

Views and opinions of, and endorsements by the author(s) do not reflect those of the US Army or the Department of Defense.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.

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