A roundtable discussion of aromatase inhibitors as therapy for breast cancer.

Abstract

This article summarizes the conclusions of a meeting of diverse breast cancer experts who discussed issues, controversies, and new clinical trial results relevant to the use of aromatase inhibitors for treating postmenopausal women with breast cancer. The new generation of aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane) have largely replaced megestrol acetate as a second-line therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive advanced breast cancer. In addition, anastrozole and letrozole have been shown to be superior to tamoxifen for first-line therapy. Finally, recent results suggest that anastrozole may be superior to tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for early stage disease in postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive disease.

• Authors: D Craig Allred, Michael Baum, Aman U Buzdar, Robert W Carlson, Mitchell Dowsett, Richard M Elledge, William J Gradishar, Generosa Grana, Anthony Howell, Eleftherios P Mamounas
• Journal: The breast journal (Breast J) 2003 May-Jun Vol. 9 Issue 3 Pg. 213-22 ISSN: 1075-122X [Print] United States
• PMID: 12752630 (Publication Type: Consensus Development Conference, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Androstadienes
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• Aromatase Inhibitors
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Nitriles
• Triazoles
• Anastrozole
• Letrozole
• exemestane

Topics

• Anastrozole
• Androstadienes (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (therapeutic use)
• Aromatase Inhibitors
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
• Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Letrozole
• Nitriles (therapeutic use)
• Postmenopause
• Triazoles (therapeutic use)