Advice
Following a full submission
anastrozole (Arimidex) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in hormone receptor positive postmenopausal women who have received 2 to 3 years of adjuvant tamoxifen.
In a combined analysis of two trials, switching to anastrozole after 2 years of tamoxifen therapy rather than continuing with tamoxifen resulted in a 3.1% increase in event-free survival at three years follow-up. It offers an alternative to tamoxifen after initial adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen for 2-3 years and has a different adverse effects profile.
Treatment with anastrozole is restricted to initiation by a breast cancer specialist.
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Medicine details
- Medicine name:
- anastrozole 1mg tablet (Arimidex)
- SMC ID:
- 322/06
- Indication:
- Early breast cancer in hormone receptor positive postmenopausal women who have received 2 to 3 years of adjuvant tamoxifen
- Pharmaceutical company
- AstraZeneca UK Ltd
- BNF chapter
- Malignant disease and immunosuppression
- Submission type
- Full
- Status
- Restricted
- Date advice published
- 13 November 2006