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Preparations for the hormonal treatment of breast cancer
Preparations for the hormonal treatment of breast cancer
The hormone estrogen is sometimes a significant factor in the development of certain types of breast cancer. In postmenopausal women, estrogen is produced mainly as a result of conversion of other hormones into estrogen. This is done by enzymes called aromatase, which are located in the liver and body fat. Aromatase inhibitors are substances that block the functioning of these enzymes. Prior to the development of menopause, the ovaries are the main "supplier" of estrogen in the female body, so reducing their production by other organs and tissues is inefficient or ineffective altogether. However, in postmenopausal women, when ovarian function is extinguished, the hormone estrogen is made up of other hormone - androgen, which is facilitated by the enzyme aromatase.
Aromatase inhibitors, thus blocking the conversion of androgens to estrogens in postmenopausal women, thereby reducing the level of estrogen in the blood. This means that the hormone-positive cancer cells is less affected by the hormone, and less stimulation of their growth.
The formation of estrogen in postmenopausal women
The adrenal glands produce a special hormone - androgen, which is the male sex hormone.
In muscle and body fat in women is a special enzyme, aromatase, by which androgen is converted to estrogen.
Clinical studies of inhibitors of aromatase
Clinical studies have shown aromatase inhibitors to be very effective in the treatment of breast cancer. Currently, aromatase inhibitors have become the new standard in the treatment of both early and late invasive forms of hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Recent international medical studies have shown that aromatase inhibitors are effective in patients with tamoxifen in postmenopausal early-stage hormone-positive breast cancer.
By aromatase inhibitors include:
Aromasin (exemestane),
Arimidex (anastrozole)
Femara (letrazol).
Each of these drugs taken in pill form once a day for 5 years. In the case of metastatic spread of cancer, these take as long as the notes of their effectiveness.
All of these three drugs aromatase inhibitors have the same mechanism of action and are used only in patients with hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Your doctor will choose your product that is right for you, because each of these drugs is shown in certain cases.
Each of them has its own testimony.
Arimidex - shown in the early stages of breast cancer immediately after surgery.
Aromasin - shown in the early stages of breast cancer patients that are within 2 - 3 years of taking tamoxifen.
Femara - is shown in the early stages of breast cancer immediately after surgery, and in addition, patients who took tamoxifen for 5 years.
All three drugs are also shown in the metastatic spread of cancer.
Are there any differences among the aromatase inhibitors
In the case of a patient on any of the aromatase inhibitors drug allergy, your doctor may prescribe a different drug from this group, which has a different chemical structure.
Arimidex and Femara have a similar structure. Aromasin has a slightly different structure. Aromasin is a steroidal aromatase inhibitor type. It blocks the enzyme aromatase forever. Femara and Arimidex are nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor type. They also block the activity of the enzyme aromatase, but their effect is not permanent.
Both of these two types of drugs can have several different advantages and disadvantages. But so far that has not yet been conducted no studies specifically comparing the two types of aromatase inhibitors. In addition, each patient's side effects of these drugs may be different. So, if you do not fit one type of medication, the doctor may prescribe you a different type of aromatase inhibitors.
Indications for different types of aromatase inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitors are not shown in patients who have a menstrual cycle works. If, during the detection of a breast cancer patient was premenopausal and post-chemotherapy menstruation she stopped, your doctor may prescribe an aromatase inhibitor, but only in the case when the menstrual cycle is indeed stopped. The menstrual cycle can be restored within six months - a year and sometimes even two years after treatment.
In order to ascertain the onset of menopause, the doctor can usually wait 6 to 12 months before you make a blood test for hormones, which confirms the onset of menopause. In the meantime, the doctor can usually assign tamoxifen.
Aromatase inhibitors are appointed only after evaluating all the benefits and possible side effects of these drugs.
