Treatment Information

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Breast Cancer treatment details. Hormone.

Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Survival: monthsCountry:Sweden
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Stockholm
Treatments:HormoneHospital:Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Jun 2012

Description:

Patients:
This phase 3 study involved women with receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer who were divided into two separate treatment groups. Group A consisted of 258 patients with a median age of 65 years. Group B had 256 patients with a median age of 63 years.

Treatment:
Patients in group A were treated with two hormone therapy agents, fulvestrant and anastrozole. Fulvestrant inhibits a hormone receptor on the cell and prevents it from giving growth signals to the cell. Anastrozole is an “aromatase inhibitor” that inhibits the production of the growth-stimulating estrogen hormone.

Patients in group B were treated with the hormone therapy anastrozole alone.

Toxicities:
There were 11 treatment-related deaths in group A. Causes included heart attack, pneumonia, kidney failure, and infection. Gastrointestinal disorders and hot flashes were also reported.

There were 5 treatment-related deaths in group B. Causes included heart attack and pneumonia. Gastrointestinal disorders and hot flashes were also reported.

Results:
The median overall survival rates for groups A and B were 37.8 and 38.2 months, respectively

Support:
This study was supported by AstraZeneca, makers of Arimidex (brand name for anastrozole) and Faslodex (brand name for fulvestrant).

Correspondence: Dr. Jonas Bergh; email: jonas.bergh@ki.se



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