Arimidex
Arimidex - General Information
Arimidex is a drug indicated in the treatment of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. It is used both in adjuvant therapy (i.e. following surgery) and in metastatic breast cancer. It decreases the amount of estrogens that the body makes. Arimidex belongs in the class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors. It inhibits the enzyme aromatase, which is responsible for converting androgens (produced by women in the adrenal glands) to estrogens.
Pharmacology of Arimidex
Arimidex is a potent and selective non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women with disease progression following tamoxifen therapy. Many breast cancers have estrogen receptors and growth of these tumors can be stimulated by estrogens. In post-menopausal women, the principal source of circulating estrogen (primarily estradiol) is conversion of adrenally-generated androstenedione to estrone by aromatase in peripheral tissues, such as adipose tissue, with further conversion of estrone to estradiol. Many breast cancers also contain aromatase; the importance of tumor-generated estrogens is uncertain. Treatment of breast cancer has included efforts to decrease estrogen levels by ovariectomy premenopausally and by use of anti-estrogens and progestational agents both pre- and post-menopausally, and these interventions lead to decreased tumor mass or delayed progression of tumor growth in some women. Arimidex is a potent and selective non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor. It significantly lowers serum estradiol concentrations and has no detectable effect on formation of adrenal corticosteroids or aldosterone.
Arimidex for patients
ARIMIDEX is a prescription medicine that is approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for adjuvant treatment (treatment following surgery
with or without radiation) in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive
early breast cancer. Approval was based on study results from patients taking
ARIMIDEX as adjuvant treatment for a median of 21/2 years. In this ongoing study,
further follow-up of patients will be required to determine the long-term results,
including side effects and survival. ARIMIDEX significantly reduced the risk of
breast cancer returning compared with tamoxifen in this study, the largest-ever
breast cancer treatment trial. These results represent a preliminary comparison
with tamoxifen from this ongoing clinical trial.
Arimidex Interactions
Anastrozole inhibited in vitro metabolic reactions catalyzed by cytochromes P450 1A2, 2C8/9, and 3A4 but only at relatively high concentrations. Anastrozole did not inhibit P450 2A6 or the polymorphic P450 2D6 in human liver microsomes. Anastrozole did not alter the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine. Although there have been no formal interaction studies other than with antipyrine, based on these in vivo and in vitro studies, it is unlikely that co-administration of a 1 mg dose of ARIMIDEX with other drugs will result in clinically significant drug inhibition of cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of the other drugs.
An interaction study with warfarin showed no clinically significant effect of anastrozole on warfarin pharmacokinetics or anticoagulant activity.
At a median follow-up of 33 months, the combination of ARIMIDEX and tamoxifen did not demonstrate any efficacy benefit when compared with tamoxifen in all patients as well as in the hormone receptor-positive subpopulation. This treatment arm was discontinued from the trial. Based on clinical and pharmacokinetic results from the ATAC trial, tamoxifen should not be administered with anastrozole (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ñ Drug Interactions and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY - Clinical Studies - Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women subsections). Co-administration of anastrozole and tamoxifen resulted in a reduction of anastrozole plasma levels by 27% compared with those achieved with anastrozole alone.
Estrogen-containing therapies should not be used with ARIMIDEX as they may diminish its pharmacologic action.
Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions
No clinically significant changes in the results of clinical laboratory tests have been observed.
Arimidex Contraindications
ARIMIDEX is contraindicated in any patient who has shown a hypersensitivity reaction to the drug or to any of the excipients.
Additional information about Arimidex
Arimidex Indication: For treatment of breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
Mechanism Of Action: Arimidex selectively inhibits aromatase. The principal source of circulating estrogen (primarily estradiol) is conversion of adrenally-generated androstenedione to estrone by aromatase in peripheral tissues. Therefore, aromatase inhibition leads to a decrease in circulatin estrogen, leading to a decreased tumor mass or delayed progression of tumor growth in some women.
Drug Interactions: Not Available
Food Interactions: Food decreases the rate of absorption, but the extent of absorption is not affected.
Generic Name: Anastrozole
Synonyms: Anastrozol
Drug Category: Antineoplastic Agents; Aromatase Inhibitors
Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved; Investigational
Other Brand Names containing Anastrozole: Anastrole; Arimidex;
Absorption: Well absorbed into the systemic cirulation following oral administration. Food does not affect the extent of absorption.
Toxicity (Overdose): In rats, lethality is greater than 100 mg/kg.
Protein Binding: 40%
Biotransformation: Hepatic. Metabolized mainly by N-dealkylation, hydroxylation, and glucuronidation to inactive metabolites. Primary metabolite is an inactive triazole.
Half Life: 50 hours
Dosage Forms of Arimidex: Tablet Oral
Chemical IUPAC Name: 2-[3-(2-cyanopropan-2-yl)-5-(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]-2-methylpropanenitrile
Chemical Formula: C17H19N5
Anastrozole on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastrozole
Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals
