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Aromatase inhibitors (letrozole [Femara], exemestane [Aromasin], and anastrozole [Arimidex]) have assumed prominence — either replacing or following tamoxifen — in adjuvant endocrine therapy for patients with breast cancer. Three reports add to the body of evidence supporting their use.
In the randomized MA.17 trial, 5169 postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor–positive breast cancer who were disease-free after 5 years of tamoxifen therapy received letrozole or placebo. In previously published results (Journal Watch Oct 31 2003), estimated 4-year disease-free survival was significantly better with letrozole than with placebo (93% vs. 87%); letrozole improved overall survival in node-positive patients only. Now, the researchers have conduc…