The American Society of Clinical Oncology weighs in with an updated status report.
Aromatase inhibitors, which block estrogen synthesis, are promising agents for the treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer in both metastatic and adjuvant settings. To guide adjuvant use of these agents, the American Society of Clinical Oncology convened a Technology Assessment Panel in 2002. An updated status report for 2004 incorporates new data.
The 2004 panel concluded that optimal adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive disease should include an aromatase inhibitor. Data from four studies form the basis for this recommendation. In the ATAC study (Journal Watch Women's Health Jan 12 2005), initial therapy with the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole proved to be more effective than initial therapy with tamo…