ISSN:
1569-8041
Keywords:
advanced disease
;
aromatase inhibitors
;
breast cancer
;
formestane
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background: In postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) patients, tamoxifen (TAM)is frequently used in first-line therapy, and for those relapsing under TAM,aromatase inhibitors would be the drug of choice. Formestane, a new aromataseinhibitor, has been demonstrated to be as effective as TAM in first-linetherapy. This trial was carried out to investigate the pharmacokinetics andantitumor activity of two formestane doses in BC patients at first relapse,as well as their effects on estrogen levels, evaluated by means of a newanalytical method. Patients and methods: One hundred fifty-two postmenopausal BC patients wererandomly given formestane 250 mg or 500 mg intramuscularly every two weeks.The blood samples for estrogen measurements were taken on the first day oftherapy, at 4 and 10 weeks, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Tumor response wasfirst evaluated after 2.5 months, and then every three months. Results: Seventy-three patients received formestane 250 mg and 79 received500 mg. After four weeks, plasma estrone, estradiol and estrone sulphatelevels were significantly (P〈0.001) suppressed in both groups. The overallresponse rates were 30% and 40% on 250 mg and 500 mg,respectively. Conclusions: Both of the formestane doses are effective in reducing plasmaestrogen levels in BC patients at first relapse, and the new analytical methodimproved the quality of results. The antitumor response was highlysatisfactory.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008270131789
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