Aromatase inhibitors: Role in postmenopausal breast cancer

Abstract Postmenopausal women are at high risk of developing breast cancer due to estrogen production in peripheral tissues of the body other than ovaries. Aromatase is present in breast tissue, leading to local estrogen production which can be inhibited by a variety of steroidal and nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors. There are many aromatase inhibitors available in clinical practice like exemestane, formestane, anastrozole, letrozole, fadrozole, vorozole, and so forth, but the major challenge in anti‐breast cancer therapy is the toxicity associated with aromatase inhibitors, especially the steroidal class of drugs. It is, therefore, urgently required to develop novel anticancer drugs having better safety and efficacy for the treatment of breast cancer. This study highlights the aromatase inhibitors reported in the current literature as well as the recent advances in the management of breast cancer.