Glossary

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Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS): Drugs designed to produce the good effects of estrogen (such as prevention of osteoporosis or high cholesterol) without increasing cancer risk. Like estrogen, they work by binding to the estrogen receptors on cells in target tissues, such as bone and breast. In some tissues, this binding results in a response similar to that of estrogen, but in other tissues, the binding simply clogs the receptor and prevents the estrogen-associated activity. Thus far, no perfect “designer estrogen" has been developed. Tamoxifen is one type.