New aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer

doi:10.1136/dtb.1997.35755

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1997;35:55-56; doi:10.1136/dtb.1997.35755

New aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer

Relevant BNF section: 8.3.4.1

${blacktriangledown}$ Anastrozole (Arimidex - Zeneca) and ${blacktriangledown}$ letrozole (Femara - Novartis)are the first selective, oral, non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors.They are licensed for the treatment of advanced breast cancerin postmenopausal women where tamoxifen or other anti-oestrogentherapy has failed. The manufacturers of both drugs claim thattheir products are more effective, less toxic and better toleratedthan the progestogen megestrol acetate, the standard therapyin this clinical situation. We assess these claims.