Fulvestrant
Fulvestrant is a type of hormone therapy called a selective estrogen receptor degrader (or SERD). It binds to the estrogen receptor, blocking estrogen binding and its action on cancer cells. It also targets the estrogen receptor for destruction. This slows or stops the growth of cancer cells that need estrogen to grow.
FDA label information for this drug is available at DailyMed.
Use in Cancer
Fulvestrant is approved to be used alone or with other drugs to treat:
- Breast cancer. It is used:
- Alone in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive (HR+) and HER2-negative advanced cancer that has not been treated with hormone therapy.
- Alone in postmenopausal women with HR+ advanced cancer that got worse after treatment with hormone therapy.
- With ribociclib succinate in postmenopausal women with HR+ and HER2-negative advanced or metastatic cancer. It is used as first-line hormone therapy or after the cancer got worse during treatment with hormone therapy.
- With palbociclib or abemaciclib in women with HR+ and HER2-negative advanced or metastatic cancer that got worse after treatment with hormone therapy.
Fulvestrant is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
More About Fulvestrant
Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.
MedlinePlus Information on Fulvestrant - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:
- warnings about this drug,
- what this drug is used for and how it is used,
- what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
- what you should know about this drug before using it,
- other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
- possible side effects.
Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.
Research Results and Related Resources
Targeted Therapy to Treat Cancer
Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
Clinical Trials Accepting Patients
Find Clinical Trials for Fulvestrant - Check for trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.