Many breast tumours are dependent upon oestrogen for their development and continued growth. Over the last 25 years hormone therapy has progressed from theirreversible destruction of endocrine glands to the use of drugs that reversibly suppress oestrogen synthesis or action. The inhibition of oestrogen synthesis is most readily achieved by inhibiting the final step in the pathway of oestrogen biosynthesis, the reaction which transforms androgens into oestrogens by creating an aromatic ring in the steroid molecule (hence the enzyme's trivial name, aromatase). Whereas the first aromatase inhibitors to be used therapeutically could be shown to produce drug-induced inhibition of the enzyme and therapeutic benefits in patients with breast cancer, they were not particularlypotent and lacked specificity. However, second-generation drugs were developed and most recently third-generation inhibitors have evolved which possess remarkable specificity and potency. First comprehensive overview on the differentaromatase inhibitors. Includes preclinical and clinical studies. Gives outlook on future uses of aromatase inhibitors. International authorship. INDICE: Background and development of aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase inhibitors and models for breast cancer. Clinical pharmacology of aromatase inhibitors. Clinical studies with exemestane. Clinical studies with letrozole. Clinical studies with anastrozole. The third-generation aromatase inhibitors: a clinical overview. Lessons from the ArKO mouse. Possible additional therapeutic uses of aromatase inhibitors.
- ISBN: 978-3-7643-8692-4
- Editorial: Birkhaüser
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 200
- Fecha Publicación: 01/01/2008
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés