Dr. Harvey on Aromatase Inhibitor Treatment Duration

Harold A. Harvey, MD, Professor of Medicine, Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, discusses the optimal duration of treatment for aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in women with breast cancer.

Harvey explains that he doesn't see any reason why AIs cannot be given until the disease recurs or resistance develops. Treatment duration studies were conducted for tamoxifen that discovered it should not be given for greater than 5 years. This situation has not been shown to exist for AIs but further studies are needed.

AIs can cause some symptoms, including a threat to skeletal health. Addressing the bone complications implicated in AI therapy could help rid the treatments of this concern.