In breast cancer treatment, endocrine therapy is among a variety of surgical treatment methods other than the oldest methods is the most commonly used methods.
Endocrine therapy and chemotherapy, mechanism of action different from, its side effects than chemotherapy is small, to maintain a longer time, patients have a better quality of life.
Breast cancer is hormone-dependent tumors by estrogen and progesterone regulation. Estrogen or progesterone receptor-positive cases of application of endocrine therapy has better effect, ER, PR-negative effect of poor, therefore, hormone receptor-negative patients generally do not consider the use of endocrine therapy.
If in the past with endocrine therapy on tumor effective cases of the disease and then progress, to switch to other endocrine therapy, their efficiency is still relatively high.
In addition to the choice of endocrine drugs according to patient’s age, tumor location, surgery to the recurrence interval of time and the determination of factors such as receptors, but also according to different mechanism of action of drugs and Vice response.
Endocrine treatment options following reference:
(1), whether premenopausal or postmenopausal, tamoxifen may be preferred. Both as economic, effects and good drug term is generally 5 years. 5 years later, if it is menopause, may be sequential application of aromatase inhibitors, 2 to 5 years, a better effect.
(2) post-menopausal economic status is better, it is recommended the preferred aromatase inhibitor, at least use 2 ~ 5 years.
(3) pre-menopausal high-risk patients, such as economic conditions permit, be the first choice, “pairs of Germany” therapy (ie, Zoladex and Arimidex joint applications), the effect is better than tamoxifen.
(4) The application of tamoxifen or other endocrine drugs during the period, tumor recurrence or metastasis, or disease progression, can switch to another type of endocrine therapy.
(5) and progesterone drugs as second-line drugs, mainly used in advanced breast cancer and other endocrine therapy failure, especially for those who have cachexia.
(6), endocrine therapy is usually in the radiotherapy and chemotherapy after sequential medication, usually do not take with radiotherapy and chemotherapy drugs.
(7) Some older recurrent, metastatic breast cancer, may consider the use of endocrine therapy alone.