The third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs) anastrozole (arimidex), exemestane and letrozole have largely replaced tamoxifen as the preferred treatment for hormone receptor positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Approximately 185,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed yearly, and at least half of these women are both postmenopausal and eligible for adjuvant therapy with AIs. In addition, AIs are currently being tested as primary prevention therapy in large randomised trials involving tens of thousands of women at increased risk for breast cancer.
Aromatase (CYP19) is a critical enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis and aromatase inhibitors (AI). They work by interfering with the body's ability to produce estrogen from androgens by suppressing aromatase enzyme activity. Replicated studies have shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CYP19 gene may alter the effectiveness of AI therapy.
Related to:
anastrozole, arimidex, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel, doxorubicin, epirubicin, exemestane, fluorouracil, paclitaxel, radiotherapy, tamoxifen, Breast Neoplasms