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New data and recommendations for aromatase inhibitors?

Page last modified on: July 1, 2009
Question from PJ: What's the latest data on aromatase inhibitors, and the number of years you should take them for maximum effectiveness?
Answer —Nicholas Robert, M.D.: The current recommendation for the use of aromatase inhibitors is five years. In my practice, if I have a patient who started on tamoxifen and they're switched over to an aromatase inhibitor, I recommend 5 years of the aromatase inhibitor. But frankly, we don't know how long to give aromatase inhibitors. The duration of 5 years is the duration of how long we give tamoxifen. There are studies looking at the duration of how long to give an aromatase inhibitor. One study in which we were participants has already completed the accrual to try to answer that question, and we hope that in 2 or 3 years, maybe sooner, we'll have an answer on the duration question. I would recommend for anyone who's on an aromatase inhibitor and is coming up to their 5 years, it would be a reasonable discussion based on the stage of their early breast cancer to speak to their medical oncologist about the duration of the aromatase inhibitor they are taking, and if possible to take part in a clinical trial to try to answer this question.

On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the ASCO Annual Meeting. Nick Robert, M.D. and Beth Baughman Dupree, M.D., F.A.C.S. answered your questions about the newest findings on risk, screening, treatment, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Nicholas Robert, M.D.Nicholas Robert, M.D. is a co-chair of the Breast Committee of the U.S. Oncology Research Network and also chairs the Cancer Committee and Research Committee of the Inova Fairfax Hospital's Cancer Center. 

Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S.Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a general surgeon. Her clinical practice is located at Holy Redeemer Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center.

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