RESPONSE EVALUATION OF TAMOXIFEN VS AROMATASE INHIBITORS

Abstract

Objective:The study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of use of aromatase inhibitors (AI) and tamoxifen treatment in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal breast cancer patients. Method: The prescription data of 143 patients was reviewed for evaluation of letrozole, anastrazole and tamoxifen utilization between years 2006-2013 at SKMCH&RC. Use was analyzed against pre-menopausal and post-menopausal status of the patients using hospital information software (HIS) for data collection. NCCN Breast Cancer Guidelines were used as reference. Results:Tamoxifen upfront use in pre-menopausal women with breast cancer was 93.3%, while that of Aromatase inhibitor was 6.7%. Tamoxifen was used as second line therapy in pre-menopausal women in 6.7% while aromatase inhibitor was used as second line therapy in pre-menopausal women in 93.3%. Tamoxifen upfront in post-menopausal was 18.6%, aromatase inhibitor upfront in post-menopausal was 81.4%. Conclusion:Tamoxifen is used as first line therapy in majority of pre-menopausal breast cancer patients while aromatase inhibitors are used as second line. In case of post-menopausal breast cancer patients aromatase inhibitors are used as first line in majority of patients while tamoxifen is used as second line.