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Breast Cancer

Aromatase Inhibitors in Breast Cancer: An Overview

^a Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA; ^b Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

Key Words. Breast cancer • Hormone receptor-positive • Aromatase inhibitor

Correspondence: Nuhad K. Ibrahim, M.D., Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Unit 424, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030-4009, USA. Telephone: 713-792-2817; Fax: 713-794-4385; e-mail: nibrahim{at}mdanderson.org

We examined published reports on the use of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Our data were obtained through a MEDLINE search of literature published in English. Current data indicate that aromatase inhibitors are equivalent or superior to tamoxifen as first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer and as neoadjuvant treatment for primary breast cancer. In addition, randomized studies have shown that aromatase inhibitors can be administered instead of tamoxifen as a single agent for 5 years or sequentially with tamoxifen for 5 or 10 years. These choices should be discussed with the patient, considering the estimated risk for recurrence and other associated comorbid conditions such as osteoporosis and thromboembolism.

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