Novel concepts for the chemoprevention of breast cancer through aromatase inhibition.

• Abstract: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have a proven role in the treatment of early and metastatic breast cancer. The success of tamoxifen in reducing the relative risk of developing hormone-sensitive breast cancer in chemoprevention trials has been hampered by their long-term toxicity profile. AIs have the potential to further reduce rates of breast cancer in high-risk postmenopausal women. This article reviews the evidence to support the potential efficacy of AIs in the chemoprevention setting. It particularly focuses on a discussion of novel concepts of utilising AIs, so that they reduce breast cancer risk while minimising systemic toxicity, and highlights the importance of accurately developing risk prediction algorithms.
• Authors: Anne Kendall, Mitch Dowsett (Affiliation: Academic Department of Biochemistry, Wallace Wing, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK. anne.kendall at icr.ac.uk)
• Journal: Endocrine-related cancer (Endocr Relat Cancer) Vol. 13 Issue 3 Pg. 827-37 (Sep 2006) ISSN: 1351-0088 [Print] England
• PMID: 16954432 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anticarcinogenic Agents
• Aromatase Inhibitors
• Estrogens
• Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
• Tumor Markers, Biological

Topics

• Anticarcinogenic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Aromatase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Bone Density
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Estrogens (physiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Models, Biological
• Postmenopause
• Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (therapeutic use)
• Tumor Markers, Biological (analysis)