[Current adjuvant endocrine treatment of breast cancer]

Hormone-receptor-positive cancer is the most common tumor subtype in women with breast cancer. Endocrine treatment in this subgroup is essential for premenopausal as well as postmenopausal patients. Tamoxifen substantially improves disease-free survival and overall survival in combination with chemotherapy or alone in adjuvant therapy. In recent years, a number of large-scale, randomized trials have evaluated the role of the aromatase inhibitors (AI) in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. These studies tested one of three approaches: (1) an upfront AI, (2) a sequential approach after 2-3 years of tamoxifen and (3) an extended endocrine therapy beyond 5 years. The positive results of these studies have challenged the previous standard of a 5-year course of tamoxifen alone. While the AI have become a standard component of treatment for most postmenopausal women, many questions still remain regarding the optimal endocrine treatment.