Is long-term adjuvant treatment of breast cancer with anastrozole indicated?
BACKGROUND
Tamoxifen is the established adjuvant treatment for postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole should replace tamoxifen as the adjuvant treatment in this cancer.


METHODS
Two recent trials of anastrozole and tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment were evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
The Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial showed that 5 years of adjuvant therapy with anastrozole reduced recurrence of breast cancer to a greater extent than did tamoxifen. The Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG) Trial 6a showed that after 5 years of adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen more benefit was achieved by continuing with adjuvant anastrozole for 3 years than no further treatment. Although the long-term adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor positive breast cancer with anastrozole is indicated, questions remain as to how long the adjuvant treatment with anastrozole should continue.
RMIT University, School of Medical Sciences, Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia. sheila.doggrell@bigpond.com
Sheila A
SA
Doggrell
D000077384:Anastrozole; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009570:Nitriles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077384:Anastrozole