Fulvestrant belongs to which category of cancer treatment?

Fulvestrant is classified as a selective estrogen receptor down regulator (SERD). This category of treatment is specifically designed to target and downregulate estrogen receptors in hormone-sensitive breast cancer.

Unlike other options, a SERD works by binding to the estrogen receptor and promoting its degradation, leading to reduced estrogenic activity in target tissues. This mechanism is particularly useful in treating advanced cases of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, especially in patients who have developed resistance to other hormonal therapies.

This differentiates fulvestrant from other treatments like aromatase inhibitors, which block the aromatase enzyme responsible for estrogen production, and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), which selectively activate or deactivate estrogen receptors in different tissues. Monoclonal antibodies, on the other hand, are designed to target specific antigens on cancer cells rather than modulate hormone receptor activity.