Hormone therapyFDA-approvedFirst-line
Aromatase inhibitors (e.g. Letrozole)
Generic name: letrozole
How it works
Blocks the aromatase enzyme that converts androgens to estrogens, reducing estrogen levels and slowing tumor growth.
Cancer types
Breast Cancer— Hormone receptor-positive
Efficacy
In clinical trials, patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who received aromatase inhibitors had improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared to those who received tamoxifen.
Side effects
Mild
Most people tolerate this treatment well. Side effects are generally manageable and do not require stopping treatment.
Evidence from research
| Study | Cancer type | Stage | Efficacy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aromatase Inhibitors Linked to Liver Damage in Breast Cancer Patients | Breast Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Comparing Injectable and Oral Letrozole for Breast Cancer Treatment | Breast Cancer | phase-1 | — | Source → |
| Evaluating Zanidatamab in Early Stage HER2+ Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Testing New Treatment for Advanced Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing a New Treatment for Advanced Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Abemaciclib and Letrozole in Rare Ovarian Cancer | Ovarian Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Study of Avutometinib, Defactinib, and Letrozole for Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer | Ovarian Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Evaluating Dalpiciclib with or without Entinostat and Letrozole in Early Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Tamoxifen and Other Hormone Treatments for Invasive Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing a Combination Therapy for ER-Positive, HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Testing Letrozole and Ribociclib in Early Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Ribociclib and Letrozole Effective in Older Women with Advanced Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | preclinical | The median progression-free survival was 36 months, and the breast cancer-specific survival rate at 24 and 36 months was 82% and 75%, respectively. | Source → |
| CD8+ T cells may influence breast cancer treatment response | Breast Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Researchers Explore New Treatment Approach for Endometrial Cancer | Ovarian Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Combination Therapy Shows Promise in Rare Male Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| New Delivery Method for Breast Cancer Treatment | Breast Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Combining two treatments for hormone receptor positive breast cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-2 | The estimated median progression-free survival for the combination was 17.7 months versus 14.6 months for letrozole alone. | Source → |
| CDK4/6 Inhibitors and Endocrine Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | Ribociclib combined with letrozole significantly improved PFS over letrozole alone. | Source → |
| Letrozole May Help Manage Rare Uterine Tumors | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Researchers Treat Breast Cancer with Letrozole and Abemaciclib | Breast Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Rare Cancer Responds to Combination Therapy | Ovarian Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Alpelisib and Letrozole May Help Some Breast Cancer Patients | Breast Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
This information is provided for general education only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.