Proven value of translational research with appropriate animal models to advance breast cancer treatment and save lives: the tamoxifen tale.

Our current healthcare system is the beneficiary of the landmark successes of earlier pioneers who struggled, but persevered, to save lives. In the 19th century, two individuals stand out. Dr Louis Pasteur, a PhD basic scientist who luckily was ‘encouraged’ to conduct applied research and saved a life. Professor Paul Erhlich, a medically qualified research pathologist and winner of the Nobel Prize for antitoxin research, would create a model for successful synthetic drug development that would save thousands of lives. In my generation, it was my friend and supporter Sir James Black, Nobel laureate, who would advance the selectivity implied by receptor theory to treat patients for long periods with pathological conditions. Infectious diseases were cured within months but chronic heart disease, elevated blood pressure and gastric acid secretion were stabilized for years. Lives were saved and the practice of medicine changed to become evidence based. The key to success throughout was the creation and use of appropriate animal models. In this article, I will focus on the essential aspects of animal models in the unanticipated development of an orphan medicine tamoxifen, used initially to treat late stage breast cancer. The results from the animal models taught the medical profession how to use tamoxifen effectively to save lives, how to detect life-threatening side effects, or provided clues about a new group of medicines that now have multiple applications in women's health. But first, what did our pioneers do and how did they do it?