Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Recent Advances and Future Directions in Endocrine Manipulation of Breast Cancer: Conference summary statement

The Fourth International Conference on Recent Advances and Future Directions in Endocrine Manipulation of Breast Cancer, co-chaired by Steven Come, MD, and Aman Buzdar, MD, was held in Cambridge, MA, July 21-22, 2004. The conference was organized with the objective of analyzing recent advances in basic, translational, and clinical research relating to endocrine manipulation of breast cancer, and examining the implications of these findings both for patient management and for future research. Conference attendees were selected based on their contributions to the basic or clinical understanding of breast cancer, and included internationally recognized researchers in the fields of molecular biology, pharmacology, epidemiology, and medical oncology. The conference, which combined brief scientific reports with extended periods of open discussion, focused upon the following issues: The biology of the estrogen receptor (ER) and how ligand-dependent conformational changes in the receptor and receptor down-regulation present new therapeutic opportunities. The mechanisms of resistance to both tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors. The scientific rationale, preclinical evidence, and clinical experience to date supporting the use of combination therapies to improve efficacy and delay resistance to endocrine-based treatment. Current understanding of the biology of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and type 1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and their potential as therapeutic targets. Emerging data on aromatase inhibitors in early breast cancer: implications for clinical practice today. New drug development: preclinical and early clinical findings for the steroidal antiestrogen TAS-108. Aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer prevention. The protective effect of early pregnancy on the breast and the possible application of biological and genomic observations in this model to an alternative prevention strategy. Priorities for translational and clinical research. At the conclusion of the conference, the faculty convened to formulate the following summary statement.

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Author Donald Patrick McDonnell Pharmacology & Cancer Biology