Cardiovascular Risk in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Estrogen or Progesterone Antagonists

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature on estrogen and progesterone antagonists and their effects on the cardiovascular system. Recent findings: Estrogen and progesterone antagonists reduce cancer-related recurrence and mortality in women with ER-positive breast cancer. Recent studies, however, suggest that women with early stage breast cancer are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than recurrent breast cancer. Estrogen antagonists have been shown to reduce endothelial function, to increase lipid profiles and to alter body composition accelerating atherosclerotic changes. Summary: While clinical trial data demonstrates mixed results of the impact of estrogen antagonists on cardiovascular risk, there is a growing body of evidence that estrogen suppression and estrogen antagonists result in biologic effects on the endothelium, altering lipid profiles and accelerating the risk of atherosclerosis. Further longitudinal work however is needed.