A roundtable discussion of aromatase inhibitors as therapy for breast cancer.
This article summarizes the conclusions of a meeting of diverse breast cancer experts who discussed issues, controversies, and new clinical trial results relevant to the use of aromatase inhibitors for treating postmenopausal women with breast cancer. The new generation of aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane) have largely replaced megestrol acetate as a second-line therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive advanced breast cancer. In addition, anastrozole and letrozole have been shown to be superior to tamoxifen for first-line therapy. Finally, recent results suggest that anastrozole may be superior to tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for early stage disease in postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive disease.
Allred
D Craig
DC
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Baum
Michael
M
Buzdar
Aman U
AU
Carlson
Robert W
RW
Dowsett
Mitchell
M
Elledge
Richard M
RM
Gradishar
William J
WJ
Grana
Generosa
G
Howell
Anthony
A
Mamounas
Eleftherios P
EP
D000077384:Anastrozole; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017698:Postmenopause; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000730:Androstadienes; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077384:Anastrozole; D000077289:Letrozole; C056516:exemestane