title: Current status and future potential role of exemestane in the treatment of early and advanced breast cancer (Review).
abstract: Exemestane is a new oral steroidal aromatase inactivator, active in postmenopausal women with hormonal sensitive breast carcinoma. This drug, at a dosage of 25 mg once daily, was shown to suppress in vivo aromatase activity by 97.9%, with a subsequent reduction superior to 85% of circulating oestrogen level. It exhibits definite antitumor activity at a relatively low daily dose, and is highly potent, highly selective, and well-tolerated. Moreover, for postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer, exemestane demonstrated a higher activity and lower toxicity profile when compared to megestrol acetate and tamoxifen in second- and first-line therapy, respectively. New data on exemestane are forthcoming both in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting, which could improve the management of early breast cancer in the future.
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Medical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Bari, Italy. enricocrucitta@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crucitta
authors.forename: Monica N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Fornier
authors.forename: Nathalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Locopo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Silvestris
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Lena
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C056516:exemestane