A Better Choice Than Tamoxifen For Early Breast Cancer? (NAPSA)—Approximately 350,000 women with early breast cancer are currently taking tamoxifen to treat their disease. Now, a drug currently prescribed to treat advanced breast cancer may be even more effective than the gold standard tamoxifen. Results of a recent clinical study show that Arimidex reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer by 17 percent compared to tamoxifen. The new data are the first results reported from the world’s largest breast cancer treatment trial, called ATAC (Arimidex and Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination). This is the first time any drug has shown clinical trial results in early breast cancer that are better than tamoxifen. Patients taking Arimidex in the ATACtrial also reported fewer incidences of endometrial cancer, blood clots and vaginal bleeding than those taking tamoxifen. These are side effects that are experienced by a very small percentage of women taking tamoxifen. Dr. Aman Buzdarof the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Can- cer Center in Houston was the principal U.S. investigator of the ATACtrial. “Tamoxifen is a very effective drug, but it has side effects that have to be managed,” Buzdar comments. “The goal of research in this area is to improve that profile.” Arimidex and tamoxifen work differently, which is why thetrial showed varying results on breast cancer recurrence rates with the two drugs. Arimidex works by reducing circulating estrogen in postmenopausal women, while tamoxifen works by selectively blocking estrogen from stimulating breast cancer cells by binding to the estrogen receptor. Over the next few years, additional follow-up data will be collected to confirm if the observed reduction in recurrence rates with Arimidex will impact long-term survival of women with breast cancer. To learn more about Arimidex, speak with yourdoctor.
