title: Aromatase inhibition with 4-OHAndrostenedione after prior aromatase inhibition with aminoglutethimide in women with advanced breast cancer.
abstract: One hundred and twelve post menopausal or post oophorectomy women with advanced breast cancer (BC) who had all previously had aminoglutethimide (AG) were treated with the potent aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxy androstenedione (4-OHA). Twenty three women (21%) had a partial response to 4-OHA while another twenty five patients (22%) had stabilization of previously progressing disease. Patients responded to 4-OHA both after previously responding to then relapsing on, and after failing to respond to aminoglutethimide. Toxicity was minimal. This study shows that potent aromatase inhibition with 4-OHA is effective in women with advanced BC who have already been treated with a less potent aromatase inhibitor, and suggests that relative changes in oestrogen levels may be more important than absolute levels.
authors.affiliation: Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pitt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010052:Ovariectomy; D017698:Postmenopause
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D000735:Androstenedione; C014594:formestane