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Fewer Gynecological Problems Seen in Women on Anastrozole in ATAC Study: Presented at SABCS

By Ed Susman

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- December 12, 2005 -- A landmark trial comparing the efficacy of anastrozole and tamoxifen in preventing recurrence of breast cancer found that patients on the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole experienced fewer gynecological symptoms or abnormalities.

"Considerably fewer anastrozole patients underwent diagnostic and therapeutic interventions compared with tamoxifen patients," said Sean Duffy, MD, senior lecturer and honorary consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, St. James' University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.

In the Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination (ATAC) Trial, anastrozole therapy reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence better than tamoxifen. Dr. Duffy's study indicates that the use of the newer aromatase inhibitor appears to lessen gynecologic problems as well.

In a poster presentation on December 9^th at the 28^th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), Dr. Duffy said that the retrospective review of the patients' charts found that 1057 complained of some sort of gynecologic problem if they were on tamoxifen, compared with 634 patients taking anastrozole.

Pain was reported by 88 patients on anastrozole and 65 patients on tamoxifen. Vaginal hemorrhage was reported by 135 patients on anastrozole and 204 patients on tamoxifen.

Leukorrhea was reported by 85 patients and 286 patients, respectively; endometrial or uterine pathologies by 106 and 358 patients, respectively; cervical pathologies by 43 and 83 patients, respectively; infections by 336 and 375 patients, respectively; vaginal and vulval pathologies by 15 and 39 patients, respectively.

"Gynecological adverse events and interventions cause a substantial degree of additional physical and emotional distress to patients, as well as an economic burden to the healthcare provider," Dr. Duffy noted.

"The lower incidence of gynecological adverse events and interventions seen in patients treated with anastrozole is an important consideration for making treatment decisions regarding adjuvant endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women," he concluded.


[Presentation title: Gynecological Interventions During Adjuvant Therapy With Anastrozole or Tamoxifen: Results From the ATAC Trial. Abstract 2056]

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