A pilot study of estradiol followed by exemestane for reversing endocrine resistance in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Endocrine resistance is a frequent complication, and strategies to reverse it are a high research priority for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that is hormone receptor positive. Preclinical data suggest re-exposure to estrogen induces tumor regression in tamoxifen-resistant tumors. We conducted a pilot study to determine whether short-term estradiol exposure would reverse endocrine resistance and resensitize tumors

Methods

Postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive MBC whose disease had progressed after receiving at least one prior endocrine therapy were eligible for the study. Patients were initially treated with 6 mg/day estradiol, and those who had not progressed after 3 months were then switched to exemestane.

Results

Thirteen patients were eva

SUBMITTER: Chalasani P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4221379 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature