Aromatase inhibitors and male breast cancer.
The majority of breast cancers in male patients are hormone receptor positive. Tamoxifen has proven to be successful in both adjuvant and metastatic settings and remains the standard of care. Given the improved outcomes in female patients with aromatase inhibitors (AI), these drugs have become a potential therapeutic tool for male patients. Preliminary data show effective suppression of oestradiol levels in males treated with AI and some reports have demonstrated objective responses. Here we report a case of a male patient with metastatic breast cancer treated with letrozole who achieved clinical response associated with a decrease in blood oestradiol levels.
Arriola
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Department of Biochemistry, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, UK. edurne.arriola@icr.ac.uk
Hui
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Dowsett
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Smith
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IE
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011374:Progesterone; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D009570:Nitriles; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D014230:Triazoles; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D004958:Estradiol; D000077289:Letrozole