Register for Data support role for anastrozole as neoadjuvant therapy
AstraZenecaJune 25, 2003
2003 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The latest in a recent succession of data showing the benefits of Arimidex (anastrozole) as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting.
The data show that anastrozole is highly effective in reducing tumor-bulk in patients previously thought to have inoperable tumors.
The aim of neoadjuvant therapy is to bring about a reduction in tumor volume either to permit surgery in those cases previously considered inoperable or to facilitate conservative surgery where only a mastectomy was previously feasible. Traditionally, cytotoxic chemotherapy has been used in this preoperative setting for patients with locally advanced breast cancer. However, these latest data add to a growing body of evidence pointing to the benefits of anastrozole - an endocrine therapy with a more favorable side effect profile than chemotherapy - in shrinking large tumors prior to surgery.
The latest study, presented at ASCO, involved 112 patients with confirmed estrogen-receptor positive (ER), locally advanced breast cancer, all of whom had large tumors. After 3 months' treatment, an objective clinical response to anastrozole was seen in 83% of these women, rendering them operable through mastectomy.
Commenting on the role of anastrozole in the neoadjuvant setting, Professor Jeffrey Tobias, University College Medical School and University College Hospitals, London, said: "Studying these latest data, we see that treatment with anastrozole allows a surgical option for women whose tumors were previously considered completely inoperable. Any treatment option that allows for the surgical removal of tumors without resorting to a lengthy course of radiotherapy is likely to be highly welcomed by both physician and patient."
A study presented earlier this year at the St. Gallen meeting compared anastrozole with tamoxifen (or a combination of both drugs) in 87 postmenopausal women with ER positive, locally advanced, operable breast cancer and also showed a significant benefit for anastrozole in terms of tumor shrinkage. Clinical objective response was observed in 70% of anastrozole-treated patients, compared with 44.4% of tamoxifen patients. Subsequent breast-conserving surgery, rather than mastectomy was possible in 42% of anastrozole patients, compared with 28% for tamoxifen (p=0.056).
The authors concluded that anastrozole is more effective than tamoxifen as neoadjuvant therapy in postmenopausal women, and is well-tolerated.
Tobias added: "For patients with large tumors which would require mastectomy, shrinking the cancer prior to surgery can make an enormous difference. It may make it possible for women to become eligible for breast-conserving surgery instead - with all the consequent psychological and medical benefits. When a woman can retain her breast, she avoids both the physical and emotional traumas experienced by most women facing this distressing operation. It appears that anastrozole is a highly effective agent in this setting, far more so than tamoxifen which is currently widely employed."
Other trials are currently ongoing to further investigate the benefits of anastrozole in the neoadjuvant setting. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports.
©Copyright 2003, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
