Endocrine Therapy in Early Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Endocrine therapy with a standard duration of 5 years is well known as an effective treatment for endocrine-sensitive breast cancer.

Summary: In the adjuvant setting this treatment reduces the 15-year mortality rates by about 30 and 40% with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor, respectively. The well-known long-term recurrence risk of luminal cancers led to multiple trials examining the benefit of extended endocrine treatment for up to 15 years. Additional benefit with extended therapy was seen for patients with high recurrence risk. Also, additional ovarian suppression for premenopausal women exhibited a significant benefit for patients at higher risk.

Key messages: The data of the last years will be summarized and discussed, also considering the side effects of the different treatment options.

Keywords: Aromatase inhibitor; Chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure; Extended endocrine therapy; Late recurrence; Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy; Ovarian function suppression; Tamoxifen.