Recent advances in the clinical application of aromatase inhibitors.
Aromatase inhibitors have evolved over a period of 20 years to well tolerated agents that can effectively obliterate aromatase activity in postmenopausal women. Breast cancer is the predominant clinical application and here the newer agents have established themselves as the preferred second-line agent after tamoxifen in the treatment of advanced disease. Recent data indicate that they be more efficacious than tamoxifen and, therefore, may replace it as the first-line agent of choice in the near future. On-going clinical trials in the adjuvant setting and prospective prevention studies will elucidate whether these drugs have a yet greater role in breast cancer.
Harper-Wynne
C
C
Academic Department of Biochemistry, The Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, SW3 3JJ, London, UK. cwynne@icr.ac.uk
Dowsett
M
M
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors