[Newly discovered estrogen receptor. New therapeutic possibilities in postmenopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, cancer of the breast and prostate].

A previously unknown oestrogen receptor, ER beta, has recently been isolated. ER beta is expressed in many important target tissues for oestrogen (i.e., prostate, ovary, testis, and the cardiovascular and central nervous systems), and probably mediates many of the effects of oestrogens in the human body. Moreover, ER beta represents an interesting target for drug development, and ligands specific for the respective receptor subtype may offer interesting possibilities for the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms, and breast and prostate cancer, without many of the hitherto adverse side effects, such as the increased risk of endometrial cancer associated with hormone replacement therapy.