title: Letrozole: a review of its use in the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive early breast cancer.
abstract: Letrozole (Femara) is a third-generation, nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. Adjuvant therapy with letrozole is more effective than tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive early breast cancer, and extended adjuvant therapy with letrozole after the completion of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy is more effective than placebo in this patient population; letrozole is generally well tolerated. Ongoing trials will help answer outstanding questions regarding the optimal duration of letrozole therapy in early breast cancer and its efficacy compared with other third-generation aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole. In the meantime, letrozole should be considered a valuable option in the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive early breast cancer, both as adjuvant and extended adjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Wolters Kluwer Health/Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Mairangi Bay, North Shore 0754, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Gillian M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077289:Letrozole
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