Volume 949, Issue 1 p. 292-294

SERMs, Ethnicity, and Clinical Trials

Opportunities and Challenges

ANNE L. TAYLOR

Corresponding Author

ANNE L. TAYLOR

Division of Cardiology, Mayo Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA

Address for correspondence: Anne L. Taylor, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Office of the Dean—Medical School, C694 Mayo Memorial Building, Mayo Mail Code 293, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455. Voice: 612-624-5442; fax: 612-626-4911; [email protected].Search for more papers by this author
First published: 25 January 2006
Citations: 5

Abstract

Abstract: Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are an exciting new class of pharmacotherapeutics that may have application in a wide variety of disease states. The science, both basic and clinical, that would guide the usage of these agents is in some respects at a relatively early developmental stage. Thus, the research community has an opportunity, before their use becomes widespread, to structure clinical trials such that the most complete profiles of benefits and risks are described. Tamoxifen is the SERM that has been most extensively studied and for which there are indications for both treatment and prevention of breast cancer based on trials involving more than 50,000 women. Despite this seemingly adequate sample size, an extremely important question remains unanswered—namely, whether there are ethnic differences in benefit and adverse effects of SERMs. It has generally been the case that new pharmacologic agents are tested in relatively small numbers of subjects, often only male, in North America and western Europe. While the populations are multiethnic, clinical trial subjects are most often not representative of the ethnic variability of these areas. Guidelines for usage of new drugs based on data from small, ethnically limited population groups are then generalized to other population groups, without consideration that differences in drug metabolism and/or responsiveness might exist.