HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - The aromatase inhibitors in early breast cancer: who, when, and why?

12-28-2005, 02:08 PM

An understandable article with side effects and statistics

RB

http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/...r10037_fm.html

The aromatase inhibitors in early breast cancer: who, when, and why?
Ilona C Nordman, Andrew J Spillane and Anne L Hamilton
MJA 2005; 183 (1): 24-27

Introduction
—

The role of tamoxifen in early breast cancer
—

Aromatase inhibitors as a new option in early breast cancer
—

Comparative toxicities of tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors
—

Discussion
—

Primary care of women on maintenance hormonal therapy for treatment of breast cancer
—

Conclusion
—

Competing interests
—

References
—

Author details
Abstract

*

The aromatase inhibitors deplete oestrogen by inhibiting aromatase, the enzyme that synthesises oestrogen from androgens. They are effective as therapies for breast cancer only in postmenopausal women whose tumours express oestrogen or progesterone receptors.
*

As adjuvant therapy, tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors have similar efficacy in the first 5 years of treatment. Aromatase inhibitors can be used as an alternative to tamoxifen in women with symptomatic intolerance or a contraindication to tamoxifen.
*

Early data suggest that switching to an aromatase inhibitor after 2–5 years of tamoxifen therapy is beneficial in women with high-risk disease.
*

Aromatase inhibitors are associated with more hot flushes than placebo, but with fewer hot flushes, less endometrial toxicity and venous thromboembolism, and more arthralgia, myalgia and bone fracture than tamoxifen.

12-28-2005, 02:08 PM	#1
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	The aromatase inhibitors in early breast cancer: who, when, and why? An understandable article with side effects and statistics RB http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/...r10037_fm.html The aromatase inhibitors in early breast cancer: who, when, and why? Ilona C Nordman, Andrew J Spillane and Anne L Hamilton MJA 2005; 183 (1): 24-27 Introduction — The role of tamoxifen in early breast cancer — Aromatase inhibitors as a new option in early breast cancer — Comparative toxicities of tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors — Discussion — Primary care of women on maintenance hormonal therapy for treatment of breast cancer — Conclusion — Competing interests — References — Author details Abstract * The aromatase inhibitors deplete oestrogen by inhibiting aromatase, the enzyme that synthesises oestrogen from androgens. They are effective as therapies for breast cancer only in postmenopausal women whose tumours express oestrogen or progesterone receptors. * As adjuvant therapy, tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors have similar efficacy in the first 5 years of treatment. Aromatase inhibitors can be used as an alternative to tamoxifen in women with symptomatic intolerance or a contraindication to tamoxifen. * Early data suggest that switching to an aromatase inhibitor after 2–5 years of tamoxifen therapy is beneficial in women with high-risk disease. * Aromatase inhibitors are associated with more hot flushes than placebo, but with fewer hot flushes, less endometrial toxicity and venous thromboembolism, and more arthralgia, myalgia and bone fracture than tamoxifen.