Anastrozole

Anastrozole
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2,2'-[5-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-phenylene]bis(2-methylpropanenitrile)[1]
Clinical data
Trade names Arimidex
AHFS/Drugs.com monograph
MedlinePlus a696018
Licence data US FDA:link
Pregnancy cat. D (U.S.)
Legal status Rx only (U.S.)
Routes oral
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 83-85%
Protein binding 40%
Metabolism 85% hepatic
Half-life 46.8 h [2]
Excretion 11% renal
Identifiers
CAS number 120511-73-1 Y
ATC code L02BG03
PubChem CID 2187
DrugBank DB01217
ChemSpider 2102 Y
UNII 2Z07MYW1AZ Y
KEGG D00960 Y
ChEBI CHEBI:2704 Y
ChEMBL CHEMBL1399 Y
Chemical data
Formula C17H19N5 
Mol. mass 293.366 g/mol
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
 N(what is this?)  (verify)

Anastrozole (INN) (marketed under the trade name Arimidex by AstraZeneca) is an aromatase-inhibiting drug approved for treatment of breast cancer after surgery, as well as for metastasis in both pre and post-menopausal women. The severity of breast cancer is increased by estrogen, as sex hormones cause hyperplasia, and differentiation at estrogen receptor sites.[3] Anastrozole works by inhibiting the synthesis of estrogen. The patent on Arimidex by AstraZeneca expired 27 June 2010.[4]

Contents

Medical uses

The ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) trial was an international randomised controlled trial of 9366 women with localized breast cancer who received either anastrozole, tamoxifen, or both for five years, followed by five years of follow-up.[5] After more than 5 years the group that received anastrozole had significantly better clinical results than the tamoxifen group.[5] The trial suggested that anastrozole is the preferred medical therapy for postmenopausal women with localized breast cancer that is estrogen receptor (ER) positive.[5] Another study found that the risk of recurrence was reduced 40%, which also included an increased risk of bone fractures, and that ER negative patients benefited from switching to anastrozole.[6]

Mechanism of action

Anastrozole binds reversibly to the aromatase enzyme through competitive inhibition, inhibits the conversion of androgens to estrogens in peripheral tissues (outside the CNS), and a few CNS sites in various regions within the brain.[7][8]

Side effects

Bone weakness has been associated with anastrozole. Women who switched to anastrozole after two years on tamoxifen reported twice as many fractures as those who continued to take tamoxifen (2.1% compared to 1%).[6] Bisphosphonates are sometimes prescribed to prevent the osteoporosis induced by aromatase inhibitors.

Usage in men

While officially indicated for women, this drug has proven effective in the off-label use of reducing estrogens (in particular and more importantly, estradiol) in men.[9] Excess estradiol in men can cause benign prostatic hyperplasia, gynecomastia, and symptoms of hypogonadism.[10] It can also contribute to increased risk of stroke, heart attack, chronic inflammation, prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.[11] Some athletes and body builders will also use anastrozole as a part of their steroid cycle to reduce and prevent symptoms of excess estrogens; gynecomastia and water retention.[9] Study data suggests dosages of 0.5 mg to 1 mg a day reduce serum estradiol approx. 50% in men, which differs in postmenopausal women.[12]

Usage in children

Anastrozole may be used off-label in children with precocious puberty, or children with pubertal gynecomastia.[13][2] Following the onset of puberty, the epiphyseal plate begins to close due to an increased amount of estrogen production escaping local metabolism and spreading to the circulatory system.[13] It is shown to help slow this process, and increase adult height prediction in adolescent males treated with protein-based peptide hormones for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency.[14][14]

Chemical synthesis

The synthesis begins with nucleophilic substitution of two benzylic bromides in α,α'-dibromomesitylene (prepared by radical bromination of mesitylene, not shown on the scheme) with cyanide by treatment with potassium cyanide under phase transfer conditions, affording the dinitrile. Exhaustive methylation with methyl iodide and sodium hydride leads to the replacement of the more acidic side chain hydrogen atoms by methyl groups. The treatment with bromine in the presence of benzoyl peroxide leads to the formation of the corresponding benzyl bromide. Reaction of that product with 1,2,4-triazole in the presence of a base completes the synthesis of the aromatase inhibitor.

U.S. Patent 4,935,437

References

  1. ^ "anastrozole". Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI). European Molecular Biology Laboratory. http://www.ebi.ac.uk/chebi/advancedSearchFT.do?searchString=anastrozole&queryBean.stars=3&queryBean.stars=-1. Retrieved 2011-08-14. 
  2. ^ a b Mauras N, Bishop K, Merinbaum D, Emeribe U, Agbo F, Lowe E (August 2009). "Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anastrozole in pubertal boys with recent-onset gynecomastia". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 94 (8): 2975–8. doi:10.1210/jc.2008-2527. PMID 19470631. 
  3. ^ Howell, A.; Cuzick, J.; Baum, M.; Buzdar, A.; Dowsett, M.; Forbes, J. F.; Hoctin-Boes, G.; Houghton, J. et al. (2005). "Results of the ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) trial after completion of 5 years' adjuvant treatment for breast cancer". The Lancet 365 (9453): 60–62. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17666-6. PMID 15639680.  edit
  4. ^ "Arimidex - Big Patent Expirations of 2010". Press Release. FiercePharma. 2010-2-10. http://www.fiercepharma.com/special-reports/arimidex-big-patent-expirations-2010. Retrieved 2010-02-10. 
  5. ^ a b c Howell A, Cuzick J, Baum M, et al. (2005). "Results of the ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) trial after completion of 5 years' adjuvant treatment for breast cancer". Lancet 365 (9453): 60–2. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17666-6. PMID 15639680. 
  6. ^ a b Jakesz R, Jonat W, Gnant M, Mittlboeck M, Greil R, Tausch C, Hilfrich J, Kwasny W, Menzel C, Samonigg H, Seifert M, Gademann G, Kaufmann M, Wolfgang J (2005). "Switching of postmenopausal women with endocrine-responsive early breast cancer to anastrozole after 2 years' adjuvant tamoxifen: combined results of ABCSG trial 8 and ARNO 95 trial". Lancet 366 (9484): 455–62. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67059-6. PMID 16084253. 
  7. ^ Simpson ER (2003). "Sources of estrogen and their importance". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 86 (3–5): 225–30. doi:10.1016/S0960-0760(03)00360-1. PMID 14623515. 
  8. ^ Simpson ER (September 2003). "Sources of estrogen and their importance". J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 86 (3-5): 225–30. doi:10.1016/S0960-0760(03)00360-1. PMID 14623515. 
  9. ^ a b Mauras N, O'Brien KO, Klein KO, Hayes V (July 2000). "Estrogen suppression in males: metabolic effects". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 85 (7): 2370–7. doi:10.1210/jc.85.7.2370. PMID 10902781. ; Dougherty RH, Rohrer JL, Hayden D, Rubin SD, Leder BZ (February 2005). "Effect of aromatase inhibition on lipids and inflammatory markers of cardiovascular disease in elderly men with low testosterone levels". Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf) 62 (2): 228–35. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2005.02205.x. PMID 15670201. 
  10. ^ Dangers of Excess Estrogen in Men
  11. ^ Faloon, William. "Dangers of Excess Estrogen In the Aging Male". Life Extension Magazine, November 2008. [1]
  12. ^ Leder BZ, Rohrer JL, Rubin SD, Gallo J, Longcope C (March 2004). "Effects of aromatase inhibition in elderly men with low or borderline-low serum testosterone levels". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 89 (3): 1174–80. doi:10.1210/jc.2003-031467. PMID 15001605. 
  13. ^ a b Faglia G, Arosio M, Porretti S (December 2000). "Delayed closure of epiphyseal cartilages induced by the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole. Would it help short children grow up?". J. Endocrinol. Invest. 23 (11): 721–3. PMID 11194703. 
  14. ^ a b Mauras N, Gonzalez de Pijem L, Hsiang HY, Desrosiers P, Rapaport R, Schwartz ID, Klein KO, Singh RJ, Miyamoto A, Bishop K (March 2008). "Anastrozole increases predicted adult height of short adolescent males treated with growth hormone: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial for one to three years". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 93 (3): 823–31. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-1559. PMC 2266949. PMID 18165285. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2266949. 

External links