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Anastrozole

In Early Breast Cancer

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Abstract

▴ Anastrozole, a nonsteroidal selective aromatase inhibitor, has recently been approved in the US and several other countries for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.

▴ In the Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial, anastrazole 1mg was significantly more effective than tamoxifen 20mg or combined treatment (17 and 19% relative risk reduction) for disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.

▴ Anastrazole was also significantly more effective than tamoxifen for time to tumour recurrence and the odds of a primary contralateral tumour as a first event.

▴ During the first 2 years of treatment with anastrozole, tamoxifen or the combination, patient quality of life was similar in all treatment groups.

▴ Compared with tamoxifen, anastrozole was associated with a significantly lower incidence of vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, hot flushes, endometrial cancer, ischaemic cerebrovascular events, venous thromboembolic events and deep vein thrombosis including pulmonary embolism; tamoxifen was associated with a lower incidence of musculoskeletal disorders and fracture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis International Limited, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 10, New Zealand

    Keri Wellington & Diana M. Faulds

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  1. Keri Wellington
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  2. Diana M. Faulds
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Correspondence to Keri Wellington.

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Wellington, K., Faulds, D.M. Anastrozole. Drugs 62, 2483–2490 (2002). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200262170-00010

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