Clinical evaluation of the use of exemestane as further hormonal therapy after nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer patients

Objectives. The aromatase inhibitors Anastrozole, Letrozole ( type 2 nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors: n-SAI) and Exemestane (type 1 steroidal aromatase inactivator) are used respectively as first- and second-line hormonal therapy in postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer women. Few clinical data are published on the sequential use of different classes of aromatase inhibitors. Methods. We report an analysis on 30 postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer women treated between January 2000 and May 2002 in 2 Italian Oncology Institutions with the hormonal sequence n-SAI (Anastrozole, Letrozole) -> Exemestane. Results. When receiving n-SAI ( Anastrozole 8 patients and Letrozole 22 patients), 1 out of 30 women achieved a partial response, 20 of 30 patients no change (NC) >= 6 months. The analysis of the entire population treated with Exemestane showed an overall clinical benefit (CB) of 46.6 percent (14/30) with a median duration of 12 months (95% CI 6-25) and a median time to progression (TTP) of 4 months (95% CI 1-25). Conclusions. These data confirm a partial lack of cross-resistance between n-SAI -> Exemestane given in sequence.