Letrozole and anastrozole in early breast cancer postmenopausal patients in oncology department at Suez Canal University Hospital

Abstract

Background: There are limited data in the literature comparing the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal hormonal receptor positive early breast cancer patients.Aim of study: To compare the efficacy of letrozole and anastrozole in hormone-receptor positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients.Methods: A retrospective study with a mean follow-up period of 64 months (about 5 years) for 74 files of early invasive postmenopausal breast cancer hormonal receptor positive patients; 39 received letrozole and 35 received anastrozole, considering TTP as primary end point, and OS as second end points.Results: Letrozole is not superior to anastrozole during the first 55 months of treatment (80% PFS at 5th year), and 80% OS benefit at 6th year. Overweight patients had better (90% PFS at 5th year) than obese patients (60% PFS at 5th year).Conclusion: Letrozole is not superior to anastrozole in efficacy in early invasive hormonal receptor positive breast cancer postmenopausal patients during the first 5 years of treatment; however, Letrozole 2nd line after tamoxifen is superior to anastrozole 2nd line after tamoxifen in treating obese patients with early invasive hormone receptor positive breast cancer.