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INTRODUCTION: While endocrine therapy has a well-defined role in the treatment of only three forms of cancer, its importance is illustrated by the fact that two of these diseases, carcinoma of the breast and carcinoma of the prostate, are among the most frequent cancers and are leading causes of cancer death in industrialised countries. Taking breast cancer into consideration, endocrine therapy with antioestrogens or oestrogen suppression (by gonadectomy in premenopausal women or use of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women) has been found to cause tumour regression in advanced disease, and also to improve relapse-free and overall survival when used in the adjuvant setting. In prostatic carcinoma, androgen ablation or use of antiandrogens may cause tumour remission in the majority of patients treated for advanced disease.

There are several reasons to focus on different biochemical effects and alternative mechanisms of action in relation to endocrine therapy. Currently, we have a limited