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

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

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: 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

OBJECTIVES: There are many drugs for of symptomatic fibroids. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are the well known drugs. Also, aromatase inhibitors are effective. All published studies surveyed the effect of one of these two drugs. In this study as the first study decided to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of GnRH agonists + aromatise inhibitor on the uterine fibroids. METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective case series study was performed on 10 known cases of uterine fibroids late perimenopause, at least 3 myomas >5 cm, abnormal uterine bleeding and anemia due to fibroids, candidate for hysterectomy, no tendency to surgery. A single dose of Diphereline 11.25 mg, SR plus 2.5 mg of Letrozole daily for 4 weeks with add-back therapy + calcium carbonate were used. The second dose of Diphereline 11.25 mg, SR was used 3 months after the first injection. The patients were followed until 3 years. RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was 49.90 ± 1.66. The mean fibroid size reduced from 15.05 ± 57.20 cm to 13.56 ± 39.39 cm (P = 0.012) and fibroid volume reduced from 72.78 ± 110.6 to 50.96 ± 64.2 (P = 0.116). There was no signification changes in the serum level of hormones at the end of six months. Eight cases were menopause at the end of the study and hypoestrogenism symptoms did not happened in none of the cases until the end of 24 months. Except in one case, there was no need to do surgery on others. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of Diphereline + Letrozole probably could prevent surgery in cases that have multiple fibroids, perimenopause, anemic and candidate for surgery.
Anemia ; Aromatase Inhibitors ; Aromatase ; Calcium Carbonate ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma ; Menopause ; Myoma ; Perimenopause ; Prospective Studies ; Uterine Hemorrhage

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

The incidence of idiopathic precocious puberty is rapidly increasing in Korea. The most common medication used for treatment is a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist. However, there is some debate regarding the indication and timing of treatment, and the dosage of the medication, because there are many factors that can affect growth in children after delaying puberty. Also, there are new medications that can potentially delay the puberty with children, for example, gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists and aromatase inhibitors which require extensive further study.
Aromatase Inhibitors ; Child ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Puberty ; Puberty, Precocious

In the treatment of breast cancer, especially in estrogen receptor (ER) positive patients, endocrine therapy has played an important role since bilateral oophorectomy, the first endocrine therapy, was performed by George Thomas Beaston in 1896. Thereafter, various therapeutic modalities such as radiation therapy to ovaries, surgical or medical adrenalectomy, or hypophysectomy, have been used for endocrine therapy in breast cancer. The discovery of ER and the development of anti-estrogens represent substantial progress, and tamoxifen, the first selective ER modulator, has become the gold standard in the endocrine therapy of breast cancer. The therapeutic effects of tamoxifen were confirmed by the 1995 Oxford overview. Recently, the 7th International Conference on Adjuvant Therapy of Primary Breast Cancer held in St. Gallen, Switzerland, recognized the increasing role played by endocrine therapy in properly selected patients groups, especially in younger patients with ER-positive tumors. In addition, recent advances in estrogen research and ER function at the molecular level have provided new strategies as well as a better understanding of endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Lately, new hormonal agents, such as the third-generation aromatase inhibitors, and ER downregulators, showed equivalent or better results in terms of therapeutic effects than tamoxifen. As a result, many clinical trials are ongoing to determine the most appropriate endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Therefore, it is important to maximize the benefits of endocrine therapy in clinical practice in terms of the patient's quality of life as well as the prolongation of patient survival. More studies are needed to determine optimal agents and the duration of therapy, combinations of agents or sequences of therapy according to prognostic and predictive factors.
Adrenalectomy ; Aromatase Inhibitors ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Hypophysectomy ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary ; Quality of Life ; Switzerland ; Tamoxifen

Aromatase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; Arthralgia ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the third-generation aromatase inhibitor letrozole in the treatment of McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) girls with peripheral precocious puberty. METHODS: Twenty-one MAS girls with peripheral precocious puberty treated in Pediatrics Department of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from March 2012 to June 2017 were enrolled in the study. Patients presented with repeated vaginal bleeding, premature breast enlargement, café-au-lait spots or dysplasia of bone fibers, and low levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH); and the congenital adrenal hyperplasia, estrogen-producing tumors, and exogenous estrogen intake were excluded. Letrozole were administrated at a dose of 0.5-2 mg·m ·d for 6 to 12 months. The patients were observed for changes in breast staging, vaginal bleeding, sex hormone levels, liver function and bone age changes, and changes in uterine and ovarian volume. RESULTS: After treatment, bone age/chronological age (BA/CA)was decreased from 1.23±0.30 to 1.11±0.18 ( < 0.01); the predicted adult height (PAH) increased from (156.2±5.9)cm to (158.4±2.1)cm after treatment ( < 0.05); the vaginal bleeding was reduced and the estradiol level decreased, while the teststosterone level and the uterus showed no significant increase, and no adverse reactions such as ovarian torsion and abnormal liver function were observed. CONCLUSIONS Precocious puberty is one of the most common endocrine manifestations in MAS. Our findings suggest that letrozole may be an effective and safe therapy to precocious puberty in girls with McCune-Albright Syndrome.
Aromatase Inhibitors ; Child ; China ; Female ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic ; Humans ; Letrozole ; Puberty, Precocious