Endocrine therapy for breast cancer in the primary care setting

The treatment of hormone-positive breast cancer (bca) is a rapidly evolving field. Improvement in the understanding of the mechanisms of action and resistance to anti-hormonal therapy has translated, in the past decade, into multiple practice-changing clinical trials, with the end result of increased survivorship for patients with all stages of hormone-positive cancer. The primary care physician will thus play an increasing role in the routine care, surveillance, and treatment of issues associated with anti-hormonal therapy. The aim of the present review was to provide a focused description of the issues relevant to primary care, while briefly highlighting recent advances in the field of anti-hormonal therapy.

■ Hormone-positive bca is the most prevalent form of bca and, compared with the other subtypes, is usually associated with better survival.■ Survivorship has significantly increased for all stages of hormone-positive bca, making the primary care physician a key player in the care of affected patients.■ The two most common classes of anti-hormonal agents used in these patients are selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors. Each class of medication is associated with signature side effects.■ Within the past decade, multiple novel estrogen receptor blockers (for example, fulvestrant) and agents aimed at circumventing resistance to endocrine therapy [inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 and of mtor (the mechanistic target of rapamycin)] have gained clinical ground. Understanding their side effects will be increasingly relevant to primary care physicians.■ Multidisciplinary care is always encouraged in the care of cancer patients receiving anti-hormonal therapy.