Aromatase Inhibitor News and Research

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Aromatase Inhibitors are drugs that prevent the formation of estradiol, a female hormone, by interfering with an aromatase enzyme. Aromatase inhibitors are used as a type of hormone therapy for postmenopausal women who have hormone-dependent breast cancer.

Pfizer announces IES analysis of Aromasin in breast cancer recurrence

Pfizer today announced results from an exploratory analysis of the Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES) at a median follow-up of 91 months in estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) or estrogen-receptor unknown (ER-unknown) women that looked at breast cancer free survival (BCFS) and censored deaths that occurred prior to breast cancer relapse.

11 Dec 2009

New data suggests bisphosphonate drug may play a role in reducing recurrent breast cancer

Bisphosphonates are routinely given to women with postmenopausal breast cancer, but new data suggests that these agents may play a role in reducing recurrent breast cancer as well.

11 Dec 2009

Pfizer to present study findings from its expanded breast cancer portfolio

Pfizer Oncology announced today that it will be presenting study findings evaluating several compounds including those from its newly expanded breast cancer portfolio following the recent acquisition of Wyeth, focusing on the needs of multiple breast cancer patient populations at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) being held December 9 – 13.

4 Dec 2009

Group Health Research Institute to receive federal stimulus funds from ARRA

Group Health Research Institute, formerly Group Health Center for Health Studies, will receive more than $15 million in federal stimulus funding from ARRA, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

6 Oct 2009

Pfizer Oncology to present early-stage research of investigational agents for cancer treatment

Pfizer Oncology will present data from across its portfolio, including results from long-term follow-up of Aromasin® (exemestane tablets) in a study of early breast cancer, updated study results from a Phase 3 study of Sutent® (sunitinib malate) in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET), and early-stage research of investigational agents PF-02341066 and figitumumab (CP-751,871) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

19 Sep 2009

Low-dose estrogen effective for metastatic breast cancer

When estrogen-lowering drugs no longer control metastatic breast cancer, the opposite strategy might work. Raising estrogen levels benefited 30 percent of women whose metastatic breast cancer no longer responded to standard anti-estrogen treatment, according to research conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and collaborating institutions.

19 Aug 2009

Pregabalin shows potential as treatment for hot flashes

A pill used for nerve pain offers women relief from hot flashes, Mayo Clinic researchers report at the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

17 May 2009

Scientists visualize the mechanism of synthesizing estrogen

The molecular details of Aromatase, the key enzyme required for the body to make estrogen, are no longer a mystery thanks to the structural biology work done by the Ghosh lab at the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI) in Buffalo, New York.

7 Jan 2009

Fruits, vegetables and fiber may cut risk of breast cancer recurrence in women without hot flashes

A secondary analysis of a large, multicenter clinical trial has shown that a diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and fiber and somewhat lower in fat compared to standard federal dietary recommendations cuts the risk of recurrence in a subgroup of early-stage breast cancer survivors - women who didn't have hot flashes - by approximately 31 percent.

15 Dec 2008

Planned safety analysis of a breast cancer prevention study reveals encouraging news for Exemestane

An interim analysis of a breast cancer prevention study using exemestane (Aromasin) finds an "acceptable" level of bone loss.

14 Dec 2008

Postmenopausal patients being considered for tamoxifen therapy should be tested for CYP2D6 gene deficiency

Findings from a new study have prompted Mayo Clinic researchers to recommend CYP2D6 gene testing for postmenopausal women about to begin tamoxifen therapy.

14 Dec 2008

Femara shows reduced risk of death versus tamoxifen after breast cancer surgery

Femara showed reduced risk of death by 13% (P=0.08) versus tamoxifen, despite inclusion of patients who had switched over from tamoxifen to Femara during the study period, following the study's unblinding.

14 Dec 2008

Aromatase inhibitors most effective in preventing breast cancer from coming back

Two separate meta-analyses of clinical trials from around the world that tested tamoxifen against aromatase inhibitor drugs in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer have each reached the same conclusion: aromatase inhibitors are more effective in preventing breast cancer from coming back.

12 Dec 2008

Estrogen therapy can help control metastatic breast cancer

For breast cancer survivors, the idea of taking estrogen pills is almost a taboo. In fact, their doctors give them drugs to get rid of the hormone because it can fuel the growth of breast cancer.

12 Dec 2008

Anti-oestrogen drugs may promote more harmful cancer cell behaviour

The authors found that tamoxifen can promote an invasive phenotype in ER+ breast cancer cells under conditions of poor cell-cell contact, a previously unknown effect of this drug

3 Dec 2008

Study identifies causes of bone loss in breast cancer survivors

Osteoporosis is a growing concern among breast cancer survivors and their doctors, because certain cancer drugs can cause bone loss.

19 Nov 2008

Breast and prostate cancer treatment may result in bone loss

A new cross-Canada study has found that breast and prostate cancer treatment can foster bone loss.

16 Nov 2008

Unique genetic signature alerts physicians to high-risk breast tumors

A unique genetic signature can alert physicians to high-risk breast tumors that are masquerading as low-risk tumors, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and collaborating institutions. Although these tumors are apparently estrogen-receptor positive - meaning they should depend on estrogen to grow - they don't respond well to anti-estrogen therapy.

21 May 2008

Seeking quality of life for cancer sufferers

The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney been awarded funding for a new study with the potential to improve the quality of life for many breast cancer sufferers.

22 Apr 2008

No link between aromatase inhibitors and cardiovascular problems

New evidence has emerged that, contrary to some current fears, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are not associated with an increased risk of heart problems in women who take them to prevent their breast cancer recurring.

17 Apr 2008