Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacies of aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer.
Methods: A total of 148 postmenopausal women (including bilateral ovariectomy) with hormone dependent metastatic breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitors (letrozole, anastrozole or exemestane) were analyzed retrospectively. Their clinical efficacies were evaluated.
Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.5 months and the clinical benefit rate 63.5%. And the rates of PFS of patients on first-line and second-line or above treatments were 9.0 (95% CI: 6.95-11.05) and 3.0 months (95% CI: 1.8-10.1) respectively. The clinical benefit rates of two groups were 74.2% and 26.3% respectively.
Conclusion: Aromatase inhibitors are both efficacious and well-tolerated for patients of postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer. It may be recommended as a first-line therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone dependent metastatic breast cancer.