TRIAL EXPLORES FASLODEX AFTER AROMATASE INHIBITOR

Among women with advanced breast cancer that progresses after therapy with an aromatase inhibitor, treatment with the antiestrogen drug Faslodex (fulvestrant) resulted in reduced or stable disease in 35 percent of patients. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Faslodex is a new anti-estrogen agent that produces anticancer effects through two mechanisms: First, when Faslodex binds to the estrogen receptors, estrogen is crowded out and no longer able to bind to these receptors. Second, Faslodex degrades the estrogen receptors to which it is bound. Both of these mechanisms prevent cancer cells from accessing enough estrogen for cellular growth and replication.

Historically, the most common hormonal treatment for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer was an antiestrogen called Nolvadex (tamoxifen). Nolvadex blocks estrogen receptors and prevents the estrogen-stimulated growth of breast cancer cells. More recently, a newer class of hormonal agents called aromatase inhibitors has emerged for the treatment of hormone-positive breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors act by suppressing the production of estrogen.