The selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are a new class of drugs that have important applications in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer, osteoporosis and coronary heart disease. The first SERM tamoxifen is the endocrine treatment of choice for all stages of ER positive breast cancer and the first drug available to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in pre and postmenopausal high-risk women. Raloxifene, a SERM available to prevent and treat osteoporosis is currently being tested in high-risk postmenopausal women for the prevention of breast cancer and coronary heart disease. The cover shows the external surface of the raloxifene ER complex as a dimer. The antiestrogenic side chain of raloxifene extends from the complex to silence the estrogen-like properties of the ER and produce antiestrogenic effects in the breast and uterus. For details, see the article by Jordan on p. 5683 in this issue.

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