Understanding Aromatase Inhibitors: How They Work and Why They Are Used in Cancer Treatment

Knowledge gleaned from societal sources was often either not accurate or not appropriate for the woman’s own specific diagnosis or treatment plan. To familiarize ourselves with the data, the first three authors carefully read and reread all transcripts. Our inductive approach involved generating initial codes, followed by comparison of the data as we searched, identified, and reviewed overarching prominent themes. We used field notes, diagramming, and reflexive memo-writing on aspects such as positionality, consistent with grounded theory data-analytic strategies31. Methodological rigor was derived from the neutrality of questions asked, successive independent coding, and discussion in regular meetings32.

1. Study design

MF, DC, LH extract data and use the help of (CFG) in extracting the 2 articles in Spanish. Include your weekly dosage, injection frequency, ester of testosterone, and information on auxiliary medications in your posts whenever applicable. Ultimately, whether or not you use an AI is a personal choice dependent on your goals. AI use Steroids best serves those who are diligent in monitoring their symptoms and blood work. Using a journal to detail dosages, symptoms, mood, and bloodwork is a smart thing to do at the initiation of any new medication. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.

Healthcare providers use aromatase inhibitors to treat hormone receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer. ER-positive breast cancer often affects women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) who are age 50 and older. Clinical trials have shown that two aromatase inhibitors – anastrozole and exemestane – can lower breast cancer risk in women who have never been diagnosed with the disease. Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medicines that work by blocking the enzyme aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors are used in the treatment of breast cancer to reduce levels of circulating estrogen. This means that less estrogen is available to stimulate the growth of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cells, slowing or inhibiting the progression of these cancers.

• Further, negative treatment expectations can lead to treatment discontinuation23, including such expectations as anticipating side-effects, concerns about treatment efficacy or necessity, and expectations about the illness itself.
• The Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) meta-analysis was released in 2015 to clarify the relative benefits of AIs vs. TAM and the outcomes of scheduling these two drugs differently during the 5 years of AET (27).
• Aromatase inhibitors, suppressing tumor and plasma estrogen levels by blocking testosterone conversion to estrogen, have been proven to provide the most effective endocrine therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Data Extraction

Therefore, use of these aromatase-inhibiting compounds seem to decrease aromatization and subsequent estradiol synthesis, which apparently increases both TST and T/E. Aromatase enzyme is expressed in ovarian granulosa cells, placental syncytiotrophoblast, adipose tissue, brain, and skin fibroblasts. The primary sources of aromatase are ovarian granulosa cells in premenopausal women and adipose cells in postmenopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors suppress oestrogen synthesis in the ovaries and in peripheral tissues, starting from the next day after dosing.

In addition to these physical side effects, aromatase inhibitors can also impact a patient’s quality of life. Some individuals may experience sexual dysfunction, such as decreased libido or vaginal dryness. Others may struggle with cognitive changes, such as difficulty concentrating or memory problems. Further research needs to be conducted on this topic, focusing on how technology can help clinicians and patients manage their adherence to endocrine therapy, thereby paving the way for better and longer therapeutic responses. On the other side, it is important to prevent endocrine overtreatment especially in older patients.

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Aromatase is the enzyme that catalyzes a key aromatization step in the synthesis of estrogen. It converts the enone ring of androgen precursors such as testosterone, to a phenol, completing the synthesis of estrogen. Because hormone-positive breast and ovarian cancers are dependent on estrogen for growth, AIs are taken to either block the production of estrogen or block the action of estrogen on receptors.