The pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780 inhibits insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐dependent proliferation in hormone‐responsive breast cancer cells. However, the interactions of ICI 182,780 with IGF‐I receptor (IGF‐IR) intracellular signaling have not been characterized. Here, we studied the effects of ICI 182,780 on IGF‐IR signal transduction in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells and in MCF‐7‐derived clones overexpressing either the IGF‐IR or its 2 major substrates, insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS‐1) or src/collagen homology proteins (SHC). ICI 182,780 blocked the basal and IGF‐I‐induced growth in all studied cells in a dose‐dependent manner; however, the clones with the greatest IRS‐1 overexpression were clearly least sensitive to the drug. Pursuing ICI 182,780 interaction with IRS‐1, we found that the antiestrogen reduced IRS‐1 expression and tyrosine phosphorylation in several cell lines in the presence or absence of IGF‐I. Moreover, in IRS‐1‐overexpressing cells, ICI 182,780 decreased IRS‐1/p85 and IRS‐1/GRB2 binding. The effects of ICI 182,780 on IGF‐IR protein expression were not significant; however, the drug suppressed IGF‐I‐induced (but not basal) IGF‐IR tyrosine phosphorylation. The expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of SHC as well as SHC/GRB binding were not influenced by ICI 182,780. In summary, downregulation of IRS‐1 may represent one of the mechanisms by which ICI 182,780 inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells. Thus, overexpression of IRS‐1 in breast tumors could contribute to the development of antiestrogen resistance. Int. J. Cancer 81:299–304, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.