[Recent development of oral anti-cancer drugs for breast cancer]

Oral anti-cancer drugs play an important role in the treatment of breast cancer. Because these hormonal agents are related to mammary carcinogenesis and tumor growth, they are used not only for therapy but also to prevent the onset of the disease. Tamoxifen, toremifene, fadrozole and other aromatase inhibitors, goserelin, leuprolin and MPA are used widely in Japan as hormonal anti-cancer drugs. In addition oral anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents, such as cyclophosphamide, 5-FU, 5'-DFUR, FT and UFT are used for breast cancer. The combination of these hormonal and chemotherapeutic agents produces good clinical results in curing the disease. Oral drugs are superior to injected drugs with regard to the QOL of patients.