title: Aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant therapies in patients with breast cancer.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that endocrine therapy has an important role in patients with oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Several large meta-analyses have reinforced the value of both ovarian ablation and tamoxifen in improving survival. Over the past decade, aromatase inhibitors have become the treatment of choice for second-line therapy of metastatic breast cancer, and the third generation inhibitors have now an established reputation for good patient tolerability. Early studies indicated that aminoglutethimide/hydrocortisone could benefit postmenopausal patients with primary breast cancer, and in 2001, the ATAC study showed that the third generation aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole, seemed superior to tamoxifen in that anastrozole-treated patients had a longer disease-free survival. Other studies will report on the relative merits of the steroidal inhibitor exemestane as well as non-steroidal letrozole. The exact duration and sequencing of treatment, together with the long-term effects on bone are at present, unknown.
authors: CR(UK) Department of Cancer Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK. c.coombes@ic.ac.uk
authors: R Charles
authors: RC
authors: Coombes
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Gibson
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hall
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Emson
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bliss
mesh_terms: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors