A retrospective study on 181 intrauterine insemination (IUI) cases using Aromatase (Al) in superovulation protocols treated in Tu Du hospital from August to December 2003. Daily doses of Anastrozole and Letrozole were 2mg and 2,5mg, respectively. All were used single or combined with FSH for superovulation. Results: Clinical pregnancy rates of cycles using Anastrozole, Letrozole, Anastrozole+FSH, and Letrozole+FSH were 18,8%, 22,8%, 26% and 29,3% respectively. Clinical pregnancy rates were not significantly different among cycles using Anastrozole and Letrozole. Stimulation duration were longer in cycles with Anastrozole than those with Letrozole. No adverse effect was recorded during the stimulation duration
Aromatase Inhibitors ; superovulation ; Insemination

Radiation recall dermatitis gap (RRD) is the development of an inflammatory reaction throughout a previously irradiated area, precipitated by the administration of certain drugs. Usually chemotherapeutic agents have been associated with RRD, but other drugs reported include tamoxifen, interferon alfa-2b, simvastatin, and antituberculous drugs. We present a case of RRD after chemotherapy with letrozol (Femara(R)). Letrozol is a third generation aromatase inhibitor, which acts as an anti-estrogen agent. This is the first reported case of RRD triggered by letrozol.
Aromatase ; Drug Therapy ; Interferons ; Radiodermatitis* ; Simvastatin ; Tamoxifen

No abstract available.
Aromatase ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Patient Selection

PURPOSE: A growing body of evidence indicates that zoledronic acid (ZA) can improve the clinical outcome in patients with breast cancer and low estrogen levels. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the survival benefit of ZA administration in postmenopausal Korean women with breast cancer who were also receiving aromatase inhibitors. METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2010, 235 postmenopausal breast cancer patients undergoing aromatase inhibitor therapy were investigated. All patients were postmenopausal, as confirmed by laboratory tests. Of these patients, 77 received adjuvant upfront ZA for at least 1 year in addition to conventional adjuvant treatment. The remaining 158 patients never received ZA and were treated according to the St. Gallen guidelines. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics for ZA treatment were not different between the two groups. The median follow-up time was 62 months, and the patients who received ZA in addition to aromatase inhibitors showed a better recurrence-free survival compared to those who received aromatase inhibitors alone (p=0.035). On multivariate analysis, the patients who received ZA showed a better recurrence-free survival independent of the tumor size, nodal status, progesterone receptor, and histological grade. For this model, Harrell c index was 0.743. The hazard ratio of ZA use for recurrence-free survival was 0.12 (95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.99). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that upfront use of ZA as part of adjuvant treatment can offer a survival benefit to postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving aromatase inhibitor treatment.
Aromatase ; Aromatase Inhibitors* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postmenopause ; Receptors, Progesterone

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of the CYP19 gene polymorphism with the risk of endometriosis. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-nine women with surgically or histologically diagnosed endometriosis of stages I-IV (ASRM, 1997) were recruited, and two hundred eighteen patients with no evidence of endometriosis by laparoscopy or laparotomy served as control. We analysed the frequency and distribution of a TTTA repeat polymorphism and a 3 bp insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in intron 4 of the CYP19 gene. RESULTS: Six alleles of the CYP19 gene tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism were found in subjects: from 7 repeats to 13 repeats except 9 repeats. There was no statistically significant difference in the allele distribution of tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the CYP19 gene between patients with endometriosis and controls. Also there was no statistically significant difference in the 3 bp insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in intron 4 of the CYP19 gene between patients with endometriosis and controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism and a 3 bp insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism of the CYP19 gene are not associated with the risk endometriosis in the Korean population.
Alleles ; Aromatase* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Introns ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Microsatellite Repeats

PURPOSE: We investigated whether oligospermic or asthenospermic men have decreased testosterone-to-estradiol (TE) ratios and whether this condition can be corrected with an oral aromatase inhibitor. We also determined the predictive value of pretreatment TE ratios for aromatase inhibitor efficacy in infertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2002 to December 2003, a total of 68 subfertile men with abnormal TE ratios were treated with 1 mg of anastrozole daily for 3 months. Changes in serum testosterone, serum estradiol, TE ratios, and semen parameters were evaluated 3 months after this therapy. RESULTS: Men treated with anastrozole had an increase in TE ratios (mean 0.2+/-0.7 [SE] versus 0.38+/-0.15; p<0.001). Semen analysis before and during anastrozole treatment showed an increase in sperm concentration (48.96 versus 70.42 million/mL; p<0.001) and motility (26.3 versus 33.2%; p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Men who are subfertile with lower TE ratios can be treated with an aromatase inhibitor with an increase in TE ratios that correlates with improved semen characteristics. We advise that an aromatase inhibitor be used in oligospermic or asthenospermic men if the TE ratio is below 0.2.
Aromatase* ; Estradiol ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; Testosterone

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of potent aromatase inhibitor (Letrozole) on the rate of bone maturation and an increase in predicted adult height (PAH) in boys with early puberty. METHODS: Nine boys, aged 10.9-12.9 years, with early puberty were studied. The boys were treated with the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, 2.5 mg/day for 1 year. The main outcome parameters were the change in bone age and predicted adult height. Also, serum LH, FSH, testosterone and estradiol concentrations were measured and sexual maturation before and after 12 months of treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: PAH significantly increased by 3.3 cm (P<0.05) and PAH standard deviation score significantly increased by 0.6 (P<0.05). Bone age before therapy advanced by 0.72+/-0.93 year, but bone age after therapy decreased by 0.07+/-0.90 year compared to chronological age (P<0.01). Whereas, sexual maturation of the subjects progressed normally. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that treatment with the potent aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, delays bone maturation and improves PAH in boys with early puberty.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Aromatase* ; Estradiol ; Humans ; Puberty* ; Sexual Maturation ; Testosterone

PURPOSE: Arthralgia is the most common side effect in breast cancer patients receiving aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy. Few studies have evaluated the risk factors, onset, and incidence of musculoskeletal pain in these patients. This study identifies the risk factors of AI-related severe arthralgia and their prevalence. METHODS: All the clinical and pathological records of postmenopausal patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer using AI at Samsung Medical Center from January 2005 to November 2007 were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors of AI-associated musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS) and factors associated with AI discontinuance. RESULTS: Among 299 patients, 69 patients (23%) experienced musculoskeletal symptoms attributed to AI use. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, no statistically significant outcome was found to confirm the risk factors for the development of AIMSS. Among the 69 patients who experienced AI-associated musculoskeletal symptoms, 29 (39.7%) discontinued AI use. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed an association of prior tamoxifen use with discontinuance of AI (P < 0.01; odds ratio, 4.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.74 to 10.50). CONCLUSION: Prior use of tamoxifen is related to discontinuation of AI due to AI-associated severe arthralgia. Special monitoring and proper pain control for these patients should be considered during the treatment period.
Aromatase Inhibitors ; Aromatase* ; Arthralgia ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Logistic Models ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Tamoxifen

PURPOSE: The role and safety of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in young breast cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea (CIA) has not been established. The goal of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of AIs in young breast cancer patients with CIA. METHODS: From December 2000 to December 2006, 58 patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer under the age of 45 were treated with AIs as adjuvant therapy. All patients had amenorrhea for more than three consecutive months at the time of treatment. We evaluated the rates of recovery of ovarian function during the treatment, and analyzed the association of the recovery of ovarian function with age, body mass index (BMI), chemotherapy regimen, radiation therapy, and the use of tamoxifen. RESULTS: Recovery of ovarian function was observed in 16 patients (27.6%). The univariate analysis showed that ovarian function was more frequently recovered in patients younger than 40 yr of age, treated with chemotherapy regimens other than Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, 5-Flurouracil (CMF), without a history of tamoxifen therapy, and with a higher BMI. The multivariate analysis confirmed that the type of chemotherapy (p=0.034) and the history of tamoxifen therapy (p=0.043) were independent factors significantly associated with the restoration of ovarian function. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that AIs should be considered, with caution in young women with CIA; these agents may promote the unwanted recovery of ovarian function. Especially, in those patients who were not treated with CMF chemotherapy or tamoxifen, where the rates of recovery of ovarian function were higher.
Amenorrhea ; Aromatase ; Aromatase Inhibitors ; Body Mass Index ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cyclophosphamide ; Female ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Multivariate Analysis ; Tamoxifen

PURPOSE: Endocrine therapy is the preferred treatment for hormone receptor (HR)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We investigated the efficacy of combined aromatase inhibitor (AI) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist in premenopausal patients with HR-positive MBC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 21 HR-positive premenopausal MBC patients treated with combined AI and LHRH agonist therapy. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 32.9 months. The overall response rate was 47.6%, with three complete responses (14.3%) and seven partial responses (33.3%). Nine patients (42.9%) achieved stable disease lasting more than 6 months; thus, the clinical benefit rate was 90.4%. The median time to progression was 45.4 months. No patients experienced grade 3 or 4 toxicity. CONCLUSION: Combined AI and LHRH agonist treatment safely and effectively induced remission or prolonged disease stabilization, suggesting that this could be a promising treatment option for HR-positive premenopausal patients with MBC.
Aromatase Inhibitors ; Aromatase* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Goserelin ; Humans ; Lutein* ; Medical Records ; Premenopause ; Retrospective Studies