title: Anastrozole: in early breast cancer.
abstract: Anastrozole, a nonsteroidal selective aromatase inhibitor, has recently been approved in the US and several other countries for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. In the Arimidex, Tamoxifen alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial, anastrazole 1mg was significantly more effective than tamoxifen 20mg or combined treatment (17 and 19% relative risk reduction) for disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. black triangle Anastrazole was also significantly more effective than tamoxifen for time to tumour recurrence and the odds of a primary contralateral tumour as a first event. During the first 2 years of treatment with anastrozole, tamoxifen or the combination, patient quality of life was similar in all treatment groups. Compared with tamoxifen, anastrozole was associated with a significantly lower incidence of vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, hot flushes, endometrial cancer, ischaemic cerebrovascular events, venous thromboembolic events and deep vein thrombosis including pulmonary embolism; tamoxifen was associated with a lower incidence of musculoskeletal disorders and fracture.
authors.affiliation: Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Keri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wellington
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Faulds
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000077384:Anastrozole; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000077384:Anastrozole