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Extended Endocrine Therapy: Is 5 Years Enough?

  • Breast Cancer (B Overmoyer, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer remain at risk for cancer recurrence for decades. In this review, we address recent data regarding the benefits and risks of extended endocrine therapy.

Recent Findings

Ten years of treatment with either tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor resulted in superior disease-free survival compared to 5 years of treatment. However, there are risks associated with extended therapy with either class of medication. Multiparameter genetic tests are in development to individualize the risk of late breast cancer recurrence and predict benefit from extended endocrine treatment.

Summary

Extended endocrine therapy is a promising strategy to reduce breast cancer recurrence in women with HR-positive breast cancer. This approach should be considered based on individual risk of cancer recurrence compared to potential benefit, comorbidities, and tolerance of therapy.

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Acknowledgements

NLH was supported, in part, by an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Manali A. Bhave

  2. Division of Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope, #2165, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    N. Lynn Henry

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  1. Manali A. Bhave
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Correspondence to N. Lynn Henry.

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Conflict of Interest

Manali A. Bhave and N. Lynn Henry declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Breast Cancer

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Bhave, M.A., Henry, N.L. Extended Endocrine Therapy: Is 5 Years Enough?. Curr Oncol Rep 19, 16 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-017-0576-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-017-0576-7

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