title: The therapeutic significance of aromatase inhibitors in endometrial carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review recent studies about the application of aromatase inhibitors in endometrial carcinoma and the benefits and challenges of aromatase inhibitors in this regard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant studies and manuscripts were searched for in Pubmed using the following terms, either alone or in combination: aromatase, aromatase inhibitors, letrozole, anastrozole, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, endocrine, therapy, and side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most pervasive gynecological malignancies. Type I endometrial carcinoma is estrogen-dependent. Recent studies have demonstrated that aromatase inhibitors, which interfere with estrogen biosynthesis by inhibiting the activity of aromatase, can be used to treat endometrial carcinoma and its precancerous lesions to some extent. In early-stage endometrial carcinoma or atypical hyperplasia, a precancerous lesion of endometrial carcinoma, the effects of aromatase inhibitors were promising. However, in advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma, the application of aromatase inhibitors cannot solve the problem evidently. In addition, these inhibitors have limitations, like side effects and drug resistance. The need for a new generation of inhibitors with higher specificity and fewer side effects should be studied further.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aromatase inhibitors show promise in the therapy of endometrial carcinoma, especially the early stage. Further studies should be conducted to develop next-generation aromatase inhibitors with higher specificity and fewer side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yingmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenyan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zhuyuanxi1963@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yuanxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: fengxiaxue1962@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fengxia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xue
mesh_terms: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors
keywords: Aromatase; Aromatase inhibitors; Endometrial carcinoma; Estrogen; Therapy