Letrozole: present and future role in the treatment of breast cancer.
State of the art hormonal therapy for women with breast cancer has evolved over the last few years. Tamoxifen used to be the gold standard for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer and also for patients with metastatic disease in whom hormonal manipulation was considered, but the introduction of third generation aromatase inhibitors has changed this concept. This article discusses the clinical implications of recent trials with one of the aromatase inhibitors letrozole, including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data as well as recent data on relative benefits and side effects compared with other available hormonal agents. Relevant ongoing clinical-translational trials evaluating this agent are also discussed.
Amar
Surabhi
S
Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
Roy
Vivek
V
Perez
Edith A
EA
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077289:Letrozole