Interview
with Neil Love, MD from Breast Cancer Update for Medical Oncologists,
Program 5 2000
Play
Audio Below:
There
are two randomized studies – a European and a North American
study of anastrozole versus tamoxifen – and they both show
that anastrozole is at least as good as tamoxifen. The North American
study, which is smaller and has all patients – virtually all
patients have known receptor status and virtually all of them are
positive receptor status – shows a quite striking improvement
associated with the anastrozole: high response rates, longer time
to disease progression. I don’t think there’s any survival
data out of either of the studies yet. Whereas the European study
shows very little difference overall, when you sub-set out the 45%
or so of patients who have known receptor-positive disease, there’s
a difference – it’s not quite as dramatic as in the North
American study, but its there. But that implies, in turn, that there’s
a group of receptor-unknown patients for whom tamoxifen is somewhat
better. I think the bottom line though is that anastrozole is at
least as good as good as tamoxifen in that setting – for metastatic
disease, first line – and it may be better.
Formestane
is feasible and effective in elderly breast cancer patients with
comorbidity and disability. Venturino,
A.; Comandini, D.; Granetto, C.; Audisio, R. A.; Castiglione, F.;
Rosso, R., and Repetto, L. (Reprint available from: Venturino A
PO S Lazzaro, Via P Belli 26 I-12051 Alba CN Italy). Breast Cancer
Research & Treatment. 62(3):217-222, 2000 Aug. In process
Critique
of survival update analysis from two phase III anastrozole clinical
trials. Buzdar, A. U.; Wood; Wolter; Vogel; Bland, and Ravdin. Annals
of Surgical Oncology. 6(8 Suppl S):8S-11S, 1999 Dec. No abstract
Letrozole:
Which dose to be used? Buzdar, A. U. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 18(8):1802-1803,
2000 Apr. No abstract
