Review

Nature Reviews Cancer 3, 821-831 (November 2003) | doi:10.1038/nrc1211

Aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer: lessons from the laboratory

Stephen R.D. Johnston1 & Mitch Dowsett2  About the authors

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Endocrine therapy with tamoxifen has been the mainstay of treatment for hormone-sensitive breast cancer for more than 20 years. An alternative strategy of oestrogen deprivation in postmenopausal women with aromatase inhibitors is set to replace tamoxifen based on better efficacy and a delay in the emergence of endocrine resistance. There are fundamental differences in how tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors alter oestrogen-receptor signalling. Understanding the response and resistance to these different therapies is central to further improving therapeutic options for women with breast cancer.

Author affiliations

  1. Breast Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK.
  2. Academic Department of Biochemistry, Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK.
    Email: mitch.dowsett@icr.ac.uk
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REFERENCE
Breast Cancer
Nature Encyclopaedia of Life Sciences

RESEARCH
Fulvestrant and the sequential endocrine cascade for advanced breast cancer
British Journal of Cancer Original Article (01 Mar 2004)
Pharmacokinetics of anastrozole and tamoxifen alone, and in combination, during adjuvant endocrine therapy for early breast cancer in postmenopausal women: a sub-protocol of the 'ArimidexTM and Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination' (ATAC) trial
British Journal of Cancer Research Article (01 Aug 2001)
Effect of neoadjuvant treatment with anastrozole on tumour histology in postmenopausal women with large operable breast cancer
British Journal of Cancer Original Article (29 Jul 2002)
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