Sequential therapy with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors in early-stage postmenopausal breast cancer: a review of the evidence.
OBJECTIVE
To review the available evidence for the emerging role of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive early-stage breast cancer.


METHODS
Studies published in journals indexed in PubMed and abstracts and presentations from international conferences.


RESULTS
Switching to an AI improves survival and reduces cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women who have received two or three years of adjuvant tamoxifen treatment but presents challenges with regard to patient selection, cost, and management of treatment-related adverse events such as bone loss and arthralgia.


CONCLUSIONS
Third-generation AIs have the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer, although the optimal treatment regimen for individual patients has yet to be determined.


CONCLUSIONS
Oncology nurses play a vital role in identifying patients suitable for AI therapy, educating patients about their treatment, and preventing and managing treatment-related adverse events.
Litsas
Georgia
G
Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. georgia_litsas@dfci.harvard.edu
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen