Table 1

Biomarker change by antihormone type and menopause

Biomarker and menopause status
Tamoxifen
Aromatase inhibitor

Breast density premenopause
Marked
NA
Breast density postmenopause
Minimal
?
Serum IGF-1/IGFBP3 ratio
Decrease
No change
Serum E2 premenopause
Large increase
NA
Serum E2 postmenopause (no HRT)
Slight increase
Decrease
Reverse atypia in 6 to 12 months
Doubtful
Doubtful

E2, oestradiol; IGF, insulin-like growth factor; HRT, hormonre replacement therapy; IGFBP, IGF-1 binding protein; NA, not applicable.

Fabian Breast Cancer Research 2007 9(Suppl 2):S18   doi:10.1186/bcr1816