
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Experimental Therapeutics, Preclinical Pharmacology |
1 Breast Cancer Prevention Program, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto; 2 Osteoporosis Program, Department of Medicine, University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto; 3 Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital; and 4 Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Exemestane (EXE) and letrozole (LET) are third-generation aromatase inhibitors currently prescribed for postmenopausal hormone-dependent breast cancer. The impact on end organs of estrogen depletion in menopausal women is of significant clinical importance. We studied the effects of EXE, its principal metabolite, 17-hydroexemestane (17-H-EXE), and LET on bone and lipid metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.
Experimental Design: OVX rats were treated by weekly intramuscular injection for 16 weeks with 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg EXE, 20 mg/kg 17-H-EXE, and daily oral gavage of 1 mg/kg LET. At the end of the treatment period, bone mineral density (BMD), the bone resorption marker serum pyridinoline, the bone formation marker serum osteocalcin, bone mechanical properties, histomorphometry, and serum lipid concentrations were determined.
Results: Lumbar vertebral and femoral BMD, bending strength of the femur, compressive strength of the fifth lumbar vertebra, and trabecular bone volume were significantly higher in OVX animals given EXE and 17-H-EXE than in OVX controls. EXE and 17-H-EXE significantly reduced an ovariectomy-induced increase in serum pyridinoline and serum osteocalcin. EXE and 17-H-EXE given to OVX rats caused significant reductions of serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In contrast, OVX rats treated with LET had BMD, bone biomarkers, mechanical failure properties, and lipid levels similar to those of OVX controls.
Conclusions: EXE and 17-H-EXE significantly prevent bone loss, enhance bone mechanical strength, and lower serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in OVX rats. These protective effects on end-organ function are not seen with the nonsteroidal inhibitor LET.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
R. Ponzone, P. Mininanni, E. Cassina, F. Pastorino, and P. Sismondi Aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer: different structures, same effects? Endocr. Relat. Cancer, March 1, 2008; 15(1): 27 - 36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. A. Ariazi, A. Leitao, T. I. Oprea, B. Chen, T. Louis, A. M. Bertucci, C. G.N. Sharma, S. D. Gill, H. R. Kim, H. A. Shupp, et al. Exemestane's 17-hydroxylated metabolite exerts biological effects as an androgen Mol. Cancer Ther., November 1, 2007; 6(11): 2817 - 2827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. A. Mousa, M. A. Bedaiwy, and R. F. Casper Aromatase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Severe Endometriosis Obstet. Gynecol., June 1, 2007; 109(6): 1421 - 1423. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. J. Chien and P. E. Goss Aromatase Inhibitors and Bone Health in Women With Breast Cancer J. Clin. Oncol., November 20, 2006; 24(33): 5305 - 5312. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Hirbe, E. A. Morgan, O. Uluckan, and K. Weilbaecher Skeletal complications of breast cancer therapies. Clin. Cancer Res., October 15, 2006; 12(20): 6309s - 6314s. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. D. Ryan and P. E. Goss Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy in Peri- and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Oncologist, July 1, 2006; 11(7): 718 - 731. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. V. McCloskey Aromatase Inhibitors and Bone Health IBMS BoneKEy, June 1, 2006; 3(6): 5 - 13. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. M. Cheung, G. Tomlinson, and P. E. Goss Bone Loss With Exemestane: Is the Jury Still Out? J. Clin. Oncol., December 20, 2005; 23(36): 9433 - 9434. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. E. Lonning and J. Geisler In Reply: J. Clin. Oncol., December 20, 2005; 23(36): 9434 - 9435. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. L. Shapiro Aromatase Inhibitors and Bone Loss: Risks in Perspective J. Clin. Oncol., August 1, 2005; 23(22): 4847 - 4849. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Kudachadkar and R. M. O'Regan Aromatase Inhibitors as Adjuvant Therapy for Postmenopausal Patients With Early Stage Breast Cancer CA Cancer J Clin, May 1, 2005; 55(3): 145 - 163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Strasser-Weippl and P. E. Goss Advances in Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy for Postmenopausal Women J. Clin. Oncol., March 10, 2005; 23(8): 1751 - 1759. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Cancer Research | Clinical Cancer Research |
| Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention | Molecular Cancer Therapeutics |
| Molecular Cancer Research | Cancer Prevention Research |
| Cancer Prevention Journals Portal | Cancer Reviews Online |
| Annual Meeting Education Book | Meeting Abstracts Online |