Insulin-like growth factor 1 and musculoskeletal pain among breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitor therapy and women without a history of cancer

摘要

PurposeMusculoskeletal pain is a common side effect of aromatase inhibitors (AIs), the adjuvant hormonal treatment of choice for postmenopausal estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Although the pain is usually attributed to the estrogen depletion associated with AIs, not all women on AIs experience these symptoms. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine whether changes in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis were associated with pain among women initiating AI therapy or a comparison group of women without a history of cancer.