[Aromatase inhibitors in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer. Is there still a place for tamoxifen?].
Adjuvant hormone therapy is indicated only in patients whose tumors express estrogen or progesterone receptors. Aromatase inhibitors (AI) are indicated only in postmenopausal patients. AI are significantly more effective than tamoxifen in terms of disease-free survival and distant recurrence-free survival; these advantages will probably result in a significant overall survival benefit after sufficient follow-up. This benefit justifies the use of AI in all postmenopausal patients in the absence of contraindications and after complete explanations of the benefit/risk ratio and potential side effects of this treatment. The benefit of AI over tamoxifen may be particularly pronounced for tumors overexpressing HER-2 and perhaps for ER+PR- tumors. Replacement of tamoxifen by AI or first-line treatment with AI is advised in patients with such tumors. Extended adjuvant treatment with AI for 5 years significantly increases survival among patients already treated with tamoxifen for 5 years; it also provides a significant overall survival benefit to patients with positive axillary nodes and should be used in this group. AI may cause several generally mild side effects, including insomnia, arthralgia, bone loss, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia and loss of libido. Tamoxifen may be appropriate for well-informed patients with these side effects, especially those with RE+ RP+ tumors and a low risk of thromboembolic or endometrial complications. The effects of AI on memory and cognition should also be investigated thoroughly before its long-term use, especially in the elderly.
Bergerat
Jean-Pierre
JP
Département d'Hématologie et d'Oncologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires, 67098 Strasbourg, France. jean-pierre.bergerat@chru-strasbourg.fr
D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation / Q000187:drug effects; D017698:Postmenopause; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D013629:Tamoxifen