title: Review of the ATAC study: tamoxifen versus anastrozole in early-stage breast cancer.
abstract: A 5-year regimen of tamoxifen hormone therapy has historically been the recommendation for hormone receptor-positive, postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. With the advent of aromatase inhibitors, there has been extensive work carried out to investigate the role of these agents in the adjuvant setting. Studies have been designed to answer whether these agents should be used upfront (instead of tamoxifen) or in conjunction (either in a switch or extended program). The Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial is a landmark trial that demonstrated the superiority of upfront anastrozole over tamoxifen. This article reviews the trial and discusses both the optimum timing of initiation of aromatase inhibitors and the future approach of more individualized therapy, with the detection of predictive markers.
authors.affiliation: University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, UK. sarah_needleman@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Needleman
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tobias
mesh_terms: D000077384:Anastrozole; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000077384:Anastrozole