Leuprorelin acetate in addition to tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor for ER-positive early stage breast cancer in premenopausal women - adjuvant

Leuprorelin acetate in addition to tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor is in clinical development as an adjuvant treatment of ER-positive early stage breast cancer in premenopausal women at higher risk of disease recurrence (young age, high grade tumour, lymph node involvement). Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in the UK. In early stage breast cancer the tumour has not spread to any other parts of the body, and the patient will have surgery to remove the tumour. Following surgery, adjuvant therapy (hormone or chemotherapy) is given to women with ER-positive cancer for 5 years or longer, to improve the success of the treatment.
One of the most common hormone therapies given to premenopausal women is tamoxifen, which blocks the oestrogen receptors, stopping oestrogen from telling the cancer cells to grow. Leuprorelin acetate works by preventing the ovaries producing oestrogen. A similar drug currently commonly used is goserelin, which is given as an injection every 4 weeks. If licensed, leuprorelin acetate will offer another treatment option for premenopausal women with early stage breast cancer.