Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
08:46

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

Published on: September 16, 2021

Goserelin plus letrozole as first- or second-line hormonal treatment in premenopausal patients with advanced breast

Shuyang Yao1, Binghe Xu, Qing Li

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.

Endocrine Journal
|May 3, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Goserelin plus letrozole offers a well-tolerated and effective treatment for premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), showing clinical benefit in 71.1% of patients. This combination therapy provides a promising option for advanced breast cancer management.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in premenopausal women requires effective hormonal therapies.
  • Limited data exist on combining luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs with aromatase inhibitors in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of goserelin plus letrozole in premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.
  • To assess objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit (CB), and progression-free survival (PFS).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, single-centre study of 52 premenopausal women with MBC.
  • Treatment involved goserelin (3.6 mg every 4 weeks) and letrozole (2.5 mg daily) as first- or second-line therapy.
  • Median treatment duration was 11 months; median follow-up was 31 months.

Main Results:

  • Objective response rate (ORR) was 21.1% (3.8% complete response, 17.3% partial response).
  • Clinical benefit (CB) was achieved in 71.1% of patients (including 50.0% with stable disease >6 months).
  • Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10 months; treatment was well-tolerated with no grade 3/4 toxicities.

Conclusions:

  • Goserelin plus letrozole is an efficacious and well-tolerated regimen for premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.
  • Complete response was observed in hormone receptor-double-positive patients.
  • Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Related Concept Videos

Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle01:30

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle.  At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...