Extended breast cancer treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (Letrozole) after tamoxifen: why, who and how long?

European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology
Manfred Kaufmann, Achim Rody

Abstract

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, and the risk for disease recurrence continues despite improvements in screening and treatment and the use of prophylactic estrogen-inhibiting therapies such as tamoxifen. A number of long-term studies now indicate a significant risk for breast cancer recurrence among patients who have undergone the currently recommended five years of tamoxifen adjuvant therapy following successful treatment of their initial disease. This ongoing recurrence risk extends even to patients commonly considered at low risk for relapse, that is, those with low-grade, small tumors, and/or node-negative disease. Treatment with tamoxifen for more than five years appears detrimental rather than beneficial and, therefore, tamoxifen is not indicated for use beyond the initial five years. Endometrial cancer and thromboembolism are among the serious adverse events that have been observed with long-term tamoxifen treatment. The aromatase inhibitors are able to reduce overall estrogen levels and appear to be better tolerated over a long term. Letrozole is the most potent aromatase inhibitor and has been available in Europe since 1996 and in the United States since 1997. Letrozole has been...Continue Reading

References

Jun 10, 1998·Steroids·J SzymczakJ Daroszewski
Feb 1, 2002·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Jürgen GeislerPer Eystein Lønning
Dec 3, 2002·Breast Cancer : the Journal of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society·John F R Robertson
Jul 31, 2003·European Journal of Cancer : Official Journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)·J M NabholtzB Thürlimann
Sep 10, 2003·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Bruce E HillnerUNKNOWN American Society of Clinical Oncology
Oct 15, 2003·European Journal of Cancer : Official Journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)·C RoseR Lang
Nov 19, 2003·The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Angela H BrodieBrian Long
Nov 19, 2003·The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Paul E Goss
Nov 25, 2003·The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·B P HaynesA S Bhatnagar
Apr 27, 2004·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Valentina Guarneri, Pier Franco Conte
May 1, 2004·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Stephen K ChiaIvo A Olivotto
Sep 24, 2004·International Journal of Cancer. Journal International Du Cancer·Jerzy E TyczynskiD Maxwell Parkin
Oct 13, 2004·Clinical Therapeutics·Toni K ChoueiriG Thomas Budd
Nov 17, 2004·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Eric P WinerMark R Somerfield
Dec 9, 2004·The Breast : Official Journal of the European Society of Mastology·Ian E Smith
Dec 9, 2004·The Breast : Official Journal of the European Society of Mastology·Fritz Jänicke
Aug 29, 2006·Annals of Oncology : Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology·B MoyP E Goss
Oct 13, 2006·Annals of Oncology : Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology·H F KenneckeK A Gelmon
Mar 12, 2008·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Hyman B MussPaul E Goss

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 24, 2007·La Presse médicale·Mohamed Issam BeyroutiAli Ghorbel
Sep 28, 2016·Gynécologie, obstétrique & fertilité·K Alaoui SlimaniM Ichou
Feb 28, 2007·British Journal of Cancer·T C Ha, H Li
Oct 14, 2009·International Journal of Gynecological Cancer : Official Journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society·Yuan-Jiao LiangYa-Li Hu

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Breast Invasive Carcinoma (Keystone)

Invasive breast cancers indicate a spread into breast tissues and lymph nodes. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to breast invasive carcinomas.

Breast Invasive Carcinoma

Invasive breast cancers indicate a spread into breast tissues and lymph nodes. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to breast invasive carcinomas.