Despite meaningful, incremental improvements in detection, local treatment and adjuvant systemic treatments for breast cancer, there remains a significant risk of late relapse in hormone receptor (HR)-positive disease. 5 years of tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor for all patients with HR-positive early breast cancer is considered standard; however, there are now data to support an extended approach using up to 10 years of treatment. This review will provide some historical background on endocrine therapy and summarize the key clinical trials that demonstrate the small absolute benefit of extended adjuvant therapy. We provide suggested treatment algorithms for both premenopausal and postmenopausal patients and an overview of ongoing adjuvant trials.
Keywords: Adjuvant treatment; Aromatase inhibitors; Breast cancer; Endocrine therapy; Tamoxifen.