Onkológia 3/2009

Adjuvant hormonal therapy of postmenopausal breast cancer patients

Breast cancer is still most common malignant disease in women population. Different mechamisms have influence on the tumor growth. Some of them are non-specific ( action is common) or specific for certain tissue type (healthy or tumorous). Local tumor growth is regulated by autocrine or paracrine growth factors and cytokines. Endocrine system cells are releasing different substances do the blood stream. These substances are regulating different organs and their functions on whole body level. These substances, hormones, also influence some tumor tissues, if their retain their hormonal sensitivity. In this case they act as growth factor for tzumor growth and these tumors are called “hormonal dependent”. Especially tumors dependent on steroidal hormones are classified as “hormonal dependent”. These characteristics are utilized in tumor therapy. Hormone depletion, receptor blockade or substances with antagonisitic action conduct an antitumor effect. They induce growth arrest or killing of deprived cancer cell, induce apoptosis. The breast cancer is prototype of „hormonal dependent“ tumor.

Keywords: breast cancer, „hormonal dependent“ tumors, adjuvant therapy, postmenopausal patients