HRT and SERMs: the good, the bad...and the lovely?

Recent studies have provided strong evidence that the biological activity of selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs) depends on the conformation of the SERM-receptor complex, the estrogen-receptor-signaling mechanism, and the tissue co-regulator composition. In addition to these new observations, other studies convincingly demonstrate that estrogen has cardioprotective properties, favorably regulating genes that are crucial to vascular physiology. These novel findings could thus be key to generating SERMs that solve the risks currently associated with hormone replacement therapy. In addition, further development could result in SERMs that possess not only anti-estrogenic actions in the breast and uterus, but also estrogenic protective actions in bone and the cardiovascular system.