Which hormonal therapy is typically recommended for pre-menopausal women with a diagnosis of LCIS?

Tamoxifen is the recommended hormonal therapy for pre-menopausal women diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). This is primarily due to its mechanism of action as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). In pre-menopausal women, tamoxifen functions by blocking estrogen receptors on breast tissue, effectively reducing the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in those with LCIS, which is considered a marker of increased breast cancer risk rather than an actual breast cancer itself.

Tamoxifen has been supported by research indicating that it can decrease the incidence of breast cancer in high-risk populations, including those with LCIS. This therapeutic approach is particularly important since LCIS typically does not lead to symptoms or detectable masses, thus highlighting the need for preventive treatment.

Raloxifene is primarily used for osteoporosis and also reduces breast cancer risk but is generally not utilized in the treatment of LCIS. Aromatase inhibitors and letrozole are more efficacious in post-menopausal women where estrogen synthesis is significantly lower, and their use is less clear in pre-menopausal women with LCIS as they do not address the primary mechanism of estrogen receptor blockage effectively in that demographic. Therefore, tamoxifen remains the standard recommended therapy for pre-men