Letrozole is part of a group of medications called aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase is an enzyme found in various places in the body. It helps with the production of estrogens (in particular, a certain estrogen called estradiol). In postmenopausal women, most of the estrogen in the body is made by aromatase enzymes. By blocking these enzymes, letrozole helps to decrease the amount of estrogen in the body.
Many
breast cancers are sensitive to the estrogen hormone, meaning that the tumor grows with its help. When a tumor is sensitive to estrogen, it has receptors on the outer surface of its cells, into which estrogen fits like a key opening a lock. When this connection is made, the cancer grows. Breast cancers that have estrogen (and/or progesterone) receptors are known as hormone receptor-positive tumors.
By decreasing estrogen production, letrozole can help decrease the growth of these breast cancers.
Is Letrozole Used for Children, Adolescents, and Men?
Letrozole is not approved to treat breast cancer in children, adolescents, or men
(see Male Breast Cancer). Talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children or adolescents.
Is Letrozole Used for Off-Label Reasons?
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend letrozole for something other than the condition listed in this article. This is known as an "
off-label" use of the medication. At this time, some off-label letrozole uses include:
- Breast cancer treatment in premenopausal women
- Treating excess estrogen in men
- Inducing ovulation in women with infertility problems, especially polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as PCOS (see Clomid vs. Femara).
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