Breast Cancer Patients Could Live Longer

[Angel]

Advanced breast cancer patients could live longer by using aromatase inhibitors an up-and-coming class of drugs. A new study shows third-generation aromatase inhibitors could be more beneficial to advanced stage breast cancer patients than standard hormone therapies like tamoxifen.

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) stop estrogen-sensitive tumors from growing by reducing the amount of estrogen in the body. In comparison, standard hormone therapies replace the hormones no longer produced by the ovaries.

Researchers at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Greece analyzed 23 previous trials involving 8,504 advanced stage breast cancer patients. Of the patients, 3,945 received standard hormone therapy and 4,559 received treatment with AIs.

On average, patients taking third-generation aromatase inhibitors, like vorozole or anastrozole, extended their survival rate by about 13 percent. A patient expecting to live 30 months would extend their lifetime by four months by taking third-generation AIs. In contrast, a patient with an expected survival of 10 months would only extend their survival by just over one month with the same treatment.

Researchers concluded third-generation aromatase inhibitors should be first-line treatment options for breast cancer patients. Tests with first-generation (aminoglutethimide) or second-generation (formestane and fadrozole) agents indicated no significant survival benefits.

Third-generation AIs and inactivators had several other positive effects. The treatment causes less weight gain, shortness of breath, and swelling in the feet, ankles and legs than progestins. According to the study, patients taking third-generation AIs benefit from a higher quality of life than those treated by hormone replacement therapy.