Exemestane as primary treatment of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women: a phase II trial.

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Barnadas A, Gil M, Gonzalez S, Tusquets I, Munoz M, Arcusa A, Prieto L, Margeli-Vila M, Moreno A

Exemestane as primary treatment of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women: a phase II trial.

Br J Cancer. 2009 Feb 10;100(3):442-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604868. Epub 2009 Jan 20.

PubMed ID

19156139 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

To assess the efficacy of exemestane as neoadjuvant treatment, 55 postmenopausal women (mean age: 76 years; range: 66-86) with oestrogen-positive non-metastatic breast tumour and ineligible for conservative surgery were recruited into this phase II trial to receive oral exemestane (25 mg day(-1)) for 6 months. Tumour response was evaluated by clinical examination, mammography and breast ultrasound every 2 months (RECIST criteria). Overall clinical response to treatment was observed in 33/54 patients (61.1%; 95% CI: 48.1-74.0). Radiological responses in 45 evaluable patients were partial response in 23, stable disease in 21 and disease progression in one. Median time to surgery from the commencement of treatment was 7 months; conservative surgery in 24 patients (55.8%) and mastectomy in 19 patients (34.5%); no surgery (patient choice or considered not suitable by attending physician) in 12 patients. Pathologic complete response was observed in breast and axilla in one patient (2.3%) and different forms of persistent disease in 23 (53.5%) patients. Treatment tolerance was good. No patient withdrew from the study because of toxic events. We conclude that exemestane as a primary treatment is feasible and very active in elderly patients with large-sized breast cancer tumour. Conservative surgery is feasible in responding patients. No severe adverse events were detected. The optimal hormonal treatment schedule remains to be determined.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Exemestane	Cytochrome P450 19A1	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details