Current concepts in the endocrine therapy of breast cancer: tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.

Recent results from randomized controlled trials have indicated that aromatase inhibitors have superior anticancer efficacy and toxicity profiles compared with tamoxifen in the treatment of post-menopausal women with node-negative hormone receptor positive breast cancer. This has led clinicians to question whether adjuvant tamoxifen therapy is still justified. This article discusses the evidence for the superiority of aromatase inhibitors over tamoxifen. There are limitations to the use of these drugs, and they have side effects, which require further clarification. In addition, there are certain niche advantages to the use of tamoxifen, and this drug has undergone rigorous appraisal over the last 20 years.