Endocrine drugs: selective oestrogen receptor modulators: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Endocrine drugs: selective oestrogen receptor modulators

Sample item

A 58-year-old postmenopausal woman with osteoporosis has a strong family history of breast cancer and an intact uterus. Which drug improves bone density and lowers invasive breast cancer risk without stimulating the endometrium?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Raloxifene

Raloxifene is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator that acts as an agonist in bone and an antagonist in breast and endometrium. It lowers vertebral fracture and invasive breast cancer risk, but raises venous thromboembolism risk and worsens hot flushes. Tamoxifen stimulates the endometrium.

Option by option

  • A. Tamoxifen

    Tamoxifen acts as a partial agonist on the endometrium and raises the risk of endometrial cancer.

  • B. Teriparatide

    Teriparatide builds bone but has no effect on breast cancer risk.

  • C. Raloxifene (correct)

    Correct. It is a bone agonist and breast and uterine antagonist, with no endometrial stimulation.

  • D. Calcitonin

    Calcitonin has a modest effect on bone and does not lower breast cancer risk.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Raloxifene. Raloxifene is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator that acts as an agonist in bone and an antagonist in breast and endometrium.

Why is "Tamoxifen" not the answer?

Tamoxifen acts as a partial agonist on the endometrium and raises the risk of endometrial cancer.

Why is "Teriparatide" not the answer?

Teriparatide builds bone but has no effect on breast cancer risk.

Why is "Calcitonin" not the answer?

Calcitonin has a modest effect on bone and does not lower breast cancer risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrine drugs: selective oestrogen receptor modulators in Pharmacology. It lowers vertebral fracture and invasive breast cancer risk, but raises venous thromboembolism risk and worsens hot flushes. Tamoxifen stimulates the endometrium.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Endocrine drugs: selective oestrogen receptor modulators?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.