ABSTRACT

Results were presented on the measurement of peripheral aromatization of androgen to oestrogens and levels of circulating oestrogens in postmenopausal women before and after treatment with aminoglutethimide. The drug was shown to be a potent inhibitor of aromatization, treatment reducing values by 95-98%. As a consequence, circulating oestrogens were also reduced to levels comparable to those in adrenalectomized postmenopausal patients. The authors concluded that aminoglutethimide’s effects on aromatase inhibition in peripheral tissues, including breast cancers themselves, might be at least as important as previously noted effects on adrenal steroidogenesis. They also suggested that drugs such as aminoglutethimide might provide a unique agent for treatment of patients with oestrogen-dependent metastatic breast cancer, and recommended comparative trials with other endocrine therapies.