Letrozole is the generic name for the brand-name medication, Femara, one of a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors.
Letrozole works by binding reversibly to the body’s aromastase enzyme, which is responsible for producing estrogen. Many breast cancer cells depend on estrogen to grow and multiply quickly. When the aromatase inhibitor is bound to the aromastase enzyme, the bound aromatase enzyme cannot produce estrogen. This drug-caused lack of estrogen "starves" estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells, preventing them from multiplying and blocking growth of the tumor.
Aromatase inhibitors, such as letrozole, are used as therapy:
• To reduce the risk of recurrence in post-menopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer. In a recent, large, international trial of more than 8,000 post-menopausal breast cancer patients, letroxole lowered the risk of relapse by 19%.[1] The study results demonstrate that letrozole is more effective than tamoxifen for preventing recurrence.
• To reduce the risk of metastasis in post-menopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer. In a recent, large, international trial of more than 8,000 post-menopausal breast cancer patients, letrozole lowered the risk of distant recurrence by 27%.[1] Treatment with letrozole in post-menopausal women whose early-stage breast cancer had spread to the lymph nodes under the arm or who had received chemotherapy resulted in a 33% or 31% reduction, respectively, in the risk of distant recurrence. [1, 2] The study results demonstrate that letrozole is more effective than tamoxifen for preventing metastasis.
• For advanced breast cancer
Moreover, if a woman who has had breast cancer has been taking tamoxifen for 5 years, it generally is recommended that she consider taking an aromatase inhibitor.
REFERENCES:
1. New England Journal of Medicine. 12/29/05.
2. Imaginis. FDA approves Femara for early-stage breast cancer. 2/15/06. Accessed at www.imaginis.com.
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