Tamoxifen: Pioneering Medicine in Breast Cancer / Edition 1

by Philipp Y. Maximov, Russell E. McDaniel, V. Craig Jordan

Overview

Tamoxifen is a pioneering medicine for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. It is the first drug targeted therapy in cancer to be successful. Tamoxifen targets the tumor estrogen receptor. The therapy is known to have saved the lives of millions of women over the past 40 years.

This monograph, written by V. Craig Jordan - known as the “father of tamoxifen” - and his Tamoxifen Team at the Georgetown University Washington DC, illustrates the journey of this milestone in medicine. It includes a personal interview with V. Craig Jordan about his four decades of discovery in breast cancer research and treatment. V. Craig Jordan was there for the birth of tamoxifen as he is credited for reinventing a “failed morning after contraceptive” to become the “gold standard” for the treatment of breast cancer. He contributed to every aspect of tamoxifen application in therapeutics and all aspects of tamoxifen’s pharmacology. He discovered the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and explored the new biology of estrogen-induced apoptosis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783034806633
Publisher:	Springer Basel
Publication date:	07/24/2013
Series:	Milestones in Drug Therapy
Edition description:	2013
Pages:	199
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

Table of Contents

Discovery and Pharmacology of Nonsteroidal Estrogens and Antiestrogens.- Tamoxifen Goes Forward Alone.- Metabolites of Tamoxifen as the Basis of Drug Development.- Adjuvant Therapy – The Breakthrough.- The Wisconsin Story in the 1980’s: Discovery of Target Site Specific Estrogen Action.- Carcinogenesis and Tamoxifen.- Chemoprevention: Cinderella waiting for the ball.- Tamoxifen and Raloxifene head to head: The STAR TRIAL.- Acquired resistance to Tamoxifen: back to the beginning.- The legacy of Tamoxifen.- Appendix: Four decades of discovery in breast cancer research and treatment – an interview with V. Craig Jordan by Marc Poirot.- Selected Awards that Recognize the Contribution of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene to Medicine.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Thomas L. Pazdernik, PhD (University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description: Written by Professor V. Craig Jordan, the "father of tamoxifen," and two of his junior colleagues, this book details a personal journey, describing how research on a "failed morning after contraceptive" resulted in a pioneering medicine that has been, and still is, used for both treatment and prevention of breast cancer, perhaps saving the lives of millions of women.
Purpose: Professor Jordan's goal was to provide a personal and unique story of drug discovery and how dedicated research by the "tamoxifen team" has led to the understanding of how to use selected estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. This is a marvelous scientific discovery story.
Audience: This a very well-written, readable book for anyone who has an interest in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, ranging from those involved in drug discovery to those who are treating and taking care of patients with breast cancer. Likewise, anyone who has a loved one who has, or is at high risk for, breast cancer will find this an excellent read.
Features: The first chapter reviews basic information on the pharmacological actions of nonsteroidal estrogen and antiestrogen chemical entities, and is followed by a chapter on how tamoxifen evolved as a valuable molecule in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. The next chapter discusses how metabolites of tamoxifen became the basis for the discovery of the concept of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). The fourth chapter deals with the breakthrough finding that long-term tamoxifen therapy could prevent the development of breast cancer in populations of women at high risk. Chapter 5 covers the expansion of studies on the tamoxifen story by the "tamoxifen team" at the University of Wisconsin where clinical trials not only further clarified the role of tamoxifen in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer but also found that SERMs are valuable in preserving bone density in post-menopausal women. Chapter 6 focuses on the carcinogenic properties of tamoxifen with its potential to increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Chapter 7 furthers the concept of chemoprevention, with chapter 8 describing the STARR trial that compares head-to-head two important SERMs, tamoxifen and raloxifene. Chapter 9 considers the acquired resistance to tamoxifen and the discovery of the phenomenon of estrogen-induced apoptosis, whereas the final chapter tackles the legacy of tamoxifen, focusing on new chemical entities and improved ways of using SERMs, such as in combination with conjugated equine estrogens to prevent adverse events. Appendix A is a personal interview of V. Craig Jordan by Marc Poirot that focuses on his four decades of discovery in breast cancer research and treatment. Appendix B notes selected awards that recognize the many contributions of tamoxifen and raloxifene to medicine.
Assessment: I highly recommend this fascinating story to anyone who has an interest in the discovery of drugs to prevent or treat cancers. It is a well-done and interesting read.

Doody's Review Service

From the book reviews:

“This is a book that had to be written. … This book should be available in every oncology department. The story will interest clinicians and laboratory scientists alike. It has both historical value and value as a guide that will illuminate the path to successful involvement in cancer research for younger cancer researchers.” (R. M. Lowenthal, Inflammopharmacology, Vol. 22 (3), June, 2014)

“This is a very well-written, readable book for anyone who has an interest in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, ranging from those involved in drug discovery to those who are treating and taking care of patients with breast cancer. Likewise, anyone who has a loved one who has, or is at high risk for, breast cancer will find this an excellent read. … It is a well-done and interesting read.” (Thomas L. Pazdernik, Doody’s Book Reviews, November, 2013)

From the Publisher