Klin Onkol 1998; 11(3): 80-84.
Summary: The introduction of a new generation of non-steroidal, aromatase inhibitors, as typified by anastrozole (Arimidex), present an exciting opportunity in the treatment of breast cancer. These agents provide highly selective and potent inhibition of aromatase enzyme and profound estrogen suppression, coupled with good tolerabiliiy and convenient, once daily administration. For the first time, they also present the possibility of improved efficacy compared with the standard second line of endocrine therapies, megestrol acetate and aminogluteihimide. Anastrozole is the first aromatase inhibitor to have shown a significant survival advantage over megestrol acetate in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer who have failed on tamoxifen. In addition, anastrazole is the first endocrine agent since tamoxifen to enter large scale adjuvant studies in postmenopausal women. This article is a literature review of current knowledge regarding aromatase inhibitors, mainly comparing anastrozole with others as well as with the second choice of hormonal therapy in advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
