Optimale adjuvante hormonale therapie bij postmenopauzale vrouwen met een hormoongevoelig mammacarcinoom: tamoxifen en de aromataseremmers anastrozol, exemestaan en letrozol

- Postmenopausal patients with hormone-sensitive breast cancer may be eligible for adjuvant hormone therapy.

- For years, tamoxifen was the treatment of choice.

- However, the side effects associated with tamoxifen, such as endometrial cancer and thromboembolic disorders, and the search for more effective agents have led to the introduction of new hormonal therapies.

- The results of randomised trials with the third-generation aromatase inhibitors anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole demonstrate improved efficacy compared to tamoxifen.

- Using aromatase inhibitors, the disease-free survival is prolonged and recent data from some studies also show a benefit in overall survival.

- Aromatase inhibitors are associated with specific side effects consisting of osteoporosis/increased incidence of fractures and myalgia/arthralgia.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2006;150:2863-9