Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2 Pt 2
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-2-9
pubmed:abstractText
The recent past has witnessed the appearance of substantial data relating to endocrine therapy of breast cancer. In the adjuvant therapy setting in early breast cancer, several large, well-conducted, randomized, double-blind clinical trials have provided evidence for the value of the third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AI) anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole. The three major studies to date [i.e., Arimidex, tamoxifen alone, or in combination (ATAC), International Exemestane Study (IES), and letrozole after 5 years of tamoxifen (MA.17)] evaluated three different populations of women from the standpoints of duration of prior tamoxifen and thus time since the treatment of the primary breast cancer. A consistent pattern of improvement in disease-free survival was seen whether the control arm was tamoxifen (ATAC and IES) or placebo following tamoxifen (MA.17). From a toxicity standpoint, the major findings with the AIs were a decreased incidence of thromboembolic events and endometrial cancers but an increase in musculoskeletal complaints and potential for decreasing bone density. The last issue should be clarified with ongoing studies addressing the impact of the three AIs on bone density and fractures. In summary, based on ATAC, IES, and MA.17, respectively, the following conclusions can be drawn relating to postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive early breast cancer: anastrozole is a reasonable choice for initial endocrine adjuvant therapy, exemestane should be considered for women who have received 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen, and letrozole should be considered for those who have completed about 5 years of tamoxifen. In the prevention setting, tamoxifen has been evaluated in multiple trials involving >28,000 women and, despite clear evidence of benefit, the level of acceptance of this agent by women seems to be low. Two recently developed prevention trials, IBIS 2 and MAP.3, involve the study of aromatase inhibitors against a placebo control rather than tamoxifen. Whereas the recent adjuvant trials have established the value of the third-generation aromatase inhibitors in early-stage breast cancer, the marked reductions in contralateral breast cancers seen in these trials suggest they will be of value in the prevention setting in women at increased risk of developing the disease.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
1078-0432
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
11
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
900s-5s
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-3
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Endocrine therapy trials of aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer in the adjuvant and prevention settings.
pubmed:affiliation
Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, USA. ingle.james@mayo.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review