 LETROZOLE (Femara) is one of a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors which work by blocking the formation of the hormone estrogen. Letrozole is used by postmenopausal women because they are the ones where the estrogen production is occurring primarily in tissues other than the ovary. Studies have shown that aromatase inhibitors showed positive activity against more advanced forms of breast cancer in postmenopausal women this is because estrogen-sensitive breast cancers use estrogen as a growth factor. So if you have a breast cancer that doesn't use estrogen as a growth factor, then inhibiting estrogen production binding (tamoxifen) or production (aromatase inhibitors) has no effect. In a recent study all the women involved had some form of surgery and sometimes radiation on their localized cancer. The common factor was that their tumours were estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer so that qualified them for tamoxifen. Previous studies of tamoxifen have shown that five years appears to be the best duration. Letrozole was added to the Tamoxifen to establish whether it gave a better outcome. The findings concluded that over an average period of 2 ½ years there was a 42% reduction in the recurrence rate of breast cancer. Letrozole is not a new medication. The therapy was already available for treatment of advanced disease (metastatic breast cancer). Letrozole has been shown to be better than tamoxifen for patients with metastatic breast cancer. But this new study opens up the therapy for women who have not yet had metastatic breast cancer. The long-term side effects are for prolonged letrozole use are still unknown. Estrogen deprivation can cause hot flashes and muscle pains. There was a slight increase in new diagnosis of osteoporosis for some of those who undertook the study for the full 2 ½ years. Side effects after longer use are still undetermined. When using letrozole, the use of other hormonal products whether drugs or supplements should be avoided. This would include androstenedione, DHEA and birth control pills. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines. Because premenopausal women have a very high production of estrogen in their ovaries this kind of therapy might not be appropriate since it shuts down the peripheral production of estrogen. Hence, this medication should only be used with the appropriate professional medical guidance by post-menopausal women. Letrozole has been gathering interest from the steroid using male athlete as it could offer great potential because of its anti-estrogen function. But there are some concerns with using an aromatase inhibitor such as this during prolonged steroid treatment. Studies have clearly shown that when an aromatase inhibitor is used in conjunction with a steroid such as testosterone, HDL (good) cholesterol is suppressed. Estrogen seems to minimize the negative impact of steroid use. As there are few clinical studies in this area please act with caution. Approved Uses © IAS Ltd. | 
