Following the results of a worldwide study, U.S. regulators have given approval for the use of the drug Femara for women with early breast cancer directly after they have had surgery.
The study found Femara was of the most benefit to women with the highest risk of the cancer returning and advocates for the treatment have been campaigning for the speedy assessment of the new breast cancer drug in order to save lives.
The study found that in women whose cancer had spread to the lymph nodes, the drug reduced the risk of a recurrence of disease by 29% compared to the hithertoo preferred drug tamoxifen.
The study which was co-ordinated by the Senology Center of Eastern Switzerland in Kantonsspital, involved 8,000 women and directly influenced the decision early in December of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve a licence for the use of the drug for post-menopausal women with early, hormone-positive breast cancer immediately after surgery.
Prior to the decision Femara only had approval for use in patients with advanced breast cancer and those who had had surgery followed by five years of treatment with tamoxifen, which is the current common treatment.
Femara is one of a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors which stop the natural production of oestrogen, the hormone responsible for the growth and recurrence of many breast cancers.
Experts have been impressed with the drug's effectiveness and say it gives hope to women with a high risk of theit breast cancer recurring.