title: Aromatase inhibitors in clinical practice: current status and a look to the future.
abstract: Aromatase inhibitors are a new class of agents that are of considerable interest for potential use as palliative therapy for hormone-dependent metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women. In the postmenopausal or castrate female, the process of aromatization accounts for the majority of circulating, biologically active estrogens. This report presents a clinical perspective on some of the most recent information concerning the biology and pharmacology of the aromatase enzyme and highlights the development of newer aromatase inhibitors with important therapeutic potential. Clinical questions addressed include the selection of aromatase inhibitors, the selection of the most appropriate patients for therapy with these new agents, and the positioning of these new agents with respect to other forms of endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Finally, we shall consider areas for future investigation of possible new indications for these agents in clinical medicine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033, USA.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors