title: Use of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.
abstract: Surgeons have been involved in the management of metastatic breast cancer since the technique of ovarian ablation was introduced in 1896. However, as newer hormonal and chemotherapeutic regimens were developed, drug therapy gradually replaced surgery as the preferred treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Thus, management of metastatic breast cancer has largely shifted from surgeons to medical oncologists. Advances in hormonal pharmacology have placed hormonal therapy alongside surgery and radiation therapy as a standard treatment option for women with advanced breast cancer. The purpose of this article is to update surgeons on the current use of hormonal agents for treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women, and to review the aromatase inhibitors, a new line of hormonal agents for the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Roseman
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Buzdar
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Singletary
mesh_terms: D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077384:Anastrozole; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017698:Postmenopause; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000616:Aminoglutethimide; C049837:rogletimide; C060523:vorozole; D000077384:Anastrozole; D000735:Androstenedione; D000077289:Letrozole; C014594:formestane