Glossary · Treatments

SERD (Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader)

Also called: Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader.

Definition: SERDs are compounds that bind estrogen receptors and target them for proteasomal degradation, producing pure antiestrogenic effects without the partial agonism of SERMs. Fulvestrant is the FDA-approved injectable SERD for hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer; elacestrant is the first oral SERD.

Detailed definition

Selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) are antiestrogens that, beyond simply blocking the receptor, accelerate its degradation. This produces a more complete antiestrogenic effect than SERMs. Fulvestrant (Faslodex) is an injectable SERD used for hormone-receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. Elacestrant (Orserdu) became the first FDA-approved oral SERD in 2023 for ESR1-mutated HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. SERDs are oncology agents and produce profound iatrogenic estrogen blockade — women on SERDs often have severe vasomotor and genitourinary symptoms.

Why it matters in menopause

SERDs are not menopause therapies — they are breast cancer treatments — but women on them experience severe estrogen-deprivation symptoms similar to or worse than natural menopause. Non-hormonal options (fezolinetant, venlafaxine, gabapentin, vaginal moisturizers, intravaginal DHEA) become important for these women.

Sources

External references: Wikipedia.

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