Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of exemestane in combination with raloxifene in postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer Journal Article


Authors: Traina, T. A.; Poggesi, I.; Robson, M.; Asnis, A.; Duncan, B. A.; Heerdt, A.; Dang, C.; Lake, D.; Moasser, M.; Panageas, K.; Borgen, P.; Norton, L.; Hudis, C.; Dickler, M. N.
Article Title: Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of exemestane in combination with raloxifene in postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer
Abstract: Purpose: Raloxifene is a second-generation selective estrogen receptor modulator that reduces the incidence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Exemestane, a steroidal aromatase inhibitor, decreases contralateral new breast cancers in postmenopausal women when taken in the adjuvant setting. Preclinical evidence suggests a rationale for coadministration of these agents to achieve complete estrogen blockade. Experimental design: We tested the safety and tolerability of combination exemestane and raloxifene in 11 postmenopausal women with a history of hormone receptor-negative breast cancer. Patients were randomized to either raloxifene (60 mg PO daily) or exemestane (25 mg PO daily) for 2 weeks. Patients then initiated combination therapy at the same dose levels for a minimum of 1 year. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data for plasma estrogens, raloxifene, exemestane, and their metabolites were collected at the end of single-agent therapy and during combination therapy. Results: Plasma concentration-time profiles for each drug were unchanged with monotherapy versus combination therapy. Raloxifene did not affect plasma estrogen levels. Plasma estrogen concentrations were suppressed below the lower limit of detection by exemestane as monotherapy and when administered in combination with raloxifene. The most common adverse events of any grade included arthralgias, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and myalgias. Conclusions: In this small study, coadministration of raloxifene and exemestane did not affect the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of either agent to a significant degree in postmenopausal women. The combination of estrogen receptor blockade and suppression of estrogen synthesis is well tolerated and warrants further investigation. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
Keywords: clinical article; clinical trial; constipation; drug tolerability; fatigue; fluorouracil; area under the curve; drug safety; monotherapy; side effect; cancer adjuvant therapy; methotrexate; quality of life; controlled clinical trial; infection; pharmacodynamics; breast cancer; neuropathy; randomized controlled trial; myalgia; aromatase inhibitor; vaginal dryness; calcium; cyclophosphamide; bone pain; breast neoplasms; exemestane; alanine aminotransferase blood level; arthralgia; aspartate aminotransferase blood level; rash; statistical analysis; drug therapy, combination; vitamin d; hot flush; maximum plasma concentration; time to maximum plasma concentration; drug blood level; estrogen receptor; progesterone receptor; postmenopause; estradiol; aromatase inhibitors; mood disorder; desquamation; raloxifene; estrone; prevention; weight gain; musculoskeletal pain; selective estrogen receptor modulator; estrogen blood level; androstadienes; selective estrogen receptor modulators
Journal Title: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Volume: 111
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0167-6806
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2008-09-01
Start Page: 377
End Page: 388
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s10549-007-9787-1
PUBMED: 17952589
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 6" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: BCTRD" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Mark M Moasser
    56 Moasser
  2. Clifford Hudis
    905 Hudis
  3. Larry Norton
    760 Norton
  4. Mark E Robson
    681 Robson
  5. Chau Dang
    273 Dang
  6. Diana E Lake
    89 Lake
  7. Maura N Dickler
    263 Dickler
  8. Alexandra S Heerdt
    111 Heerdt
  9. Patrick I Borgen
    253 Borgen
  10. Tiffany A Traina
    253 Traina
  11. Katherine S Panageas
    517 Panageas