An American trial (called trial 0030), involving 353 post-menopausal women with breast cancer and treated with either tamoxifen or anastrozole (an inhibitor of the conversion of the bodies own natural steroids to oestrogens within cells - including hormone receptive breast cancer cells) has r ecently been reported.
It seems that anastrozole is comparable, or even very slightly (albeit non-significantly) more advantageous to tamoxifen, in terms of response rates and duration. The results of this American trial complement the results of a similar European trial and anastrozole becomes the first drug to challenge tamoxifen for the ‘first/preferred endocrine/hormonal therapy in breast cancer for almost two decades.
