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In women who have breast cancer, proliferation of the breast cancer cells is
often driven by estrogen, just as in the case of normal breast cells.
Since tamoxifen can block the effects of estrogen on breast cells, scientists
predicted that breast cancer could be treated by using tamoxifen to interfere
with estrogen-induced cell proliferation. Based on encouraging results obtained
in experimental trials, tamoxifen was first approved for such use in breast
cancer treatment in the 1970s.
The first step in treating women with breast cancer is to surgically remove the
cancer from the breast. It is difficult to be certain that every cancer cell
has been removed at the time of surgery because some breast cancer cells could
have spread to surrounding tissues or other organs prior to the operation.
Therefore, women often receive some type of treatment after surgery (adjuvant
therapy) to prevent the growth of any cancer cells that might remain in the
body. Studies show that when tamoxifen is used for this purpose, the risk of
cancer recurrence is reduced.
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