Hormone receptor positive tumor

A hormone-receptor-positive tumor is a tumor which consists of cells that express receptors for certain hormones. The term most commonly refers to estrogen receptor positive tumors (i.e. tumors that contain estrogen receptor positive cells), but can also include progesterone receptor positive tumors. Estrogen-receptor-positive tumors depend on the presence of estrogen for ongoing proliferation. There are two ways for treating these kind of tumors:
* Lowering systemic levels of estrogen, achieved by the use of drugs from the aromatase inhibitor category [cite journal |author=Trunet PF, Vreeland F, Royce C, Chaudri HA, Cooper J, Bhatnagar AS |title=Clinical use of aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of advanced breast cancer |journal=J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. |volume=61 |issue=3-6 |pages=241–5 |year=1997 |month=April |pmid=9365196 |doi= |url=] [cite journal |author=Younus J, Vandenberg TA |title=A practical overview of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer |journal=Bull Cancer |volume=92 |issue=4 |pages=E39–44 |year=2005 |month=April |pmid=15888383 |doi= |url=http://www.john-libbey-eurotext.fr/medline.md?issn=0007-4551&vol=92&iss=4&page=E39] . These drugs target one of the enzymes that takes part in the biosynthesis of estrogen.
* Blockage of the estrogen receptors on the cancerous cells, thus preventing estrogen binding, leading to decreased proliferation. Drugs in this category are also referred to as SERMs (Selective estrogen receptor modulator) since they are able to block estrogen receptors in a selective manner.

Also See

Tamoxifen [cite journal |author=Legha SS |title=Tamoxifen in the treatment of breast cancer |journal=Ann. Intern. Med. |volume=109 |issue=3 |pages=219–28 |year=1988 |month=August |pmid=3291659 |doi= |url=]

Raloxifene

Femarelle (DT56a)

References

[cite journal |author=Ainge GR, Choplin RH, Bechtold RE, Muss HB, Case LD, Kute TE |title=Relationship between mammographic features and hormone receptor content in patients with breast cancer |journal=South. Med. J. |volume=82 |issue=12 |pages=1506–11 |year=1989 |month=December |pmid=2688129 |doi= |url=http://meta.wkhealth.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/lwwgateway/media/landingpage.htm?issn=0038-4348&volume=82&issue=12&spage=1506]
[cite journal |author=Aaltomaa S, Lipponen P, Eskelinen M, "et al" |title=Comparison of classic and quantitative prognostic factors in hormone receptor-positive and hormone receptor-negative female breast cancer |journal=Am. J. Surg. |volume=165 |issue=3 |pages=307–11 |year=1993 |month=March |pmid=8447534 |doi= |url=]

Further Reading

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/what_is_it/hormone_role.jsp