• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권14호
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• pp.6055-6059
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• 2015

Background: Medication policy development in Thailand is continually promoting rational drug use. Letrozole, an endocrine therapy drug, is usually prescribed for post-menopausal status early and advanced stage breast cancer. After Ministry of Public Health announced Letrozole as compulsory licensed drug in 2009, more breast cancer patients can access to this drug at low cost especially those within universal coverage schemes. To ensure that Letrozole is rationally prescribed, the drug utilization study was conducted. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the appropriate use of Letrozole in breast cancer and the relationship between appropriate use and health benefit schemes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study to evaluate use of Letrozole in breast cancer patients was performed for six months between January - June 2010 in seven regional cancer hospitals, Thailand. All prescriptions of Letrozole were identified from pharmacy dispensing databases and prescription papers. A medical record review was also performed to evaluate appropriate use referring to the drug use evaluation criteria. The approved criterion of this study was referred from the guideline of Thai National Formulary version 2010. Results: There were 681 prescriptions of Letrozole for 254 breast cancer patients with an average age of $58.6{\pm}10.0years$. The patients in universal coverage scheme (UCS), civil servant medication benefit scheme (CSMBS) and social security scheme (SSS) were 77.7%, 18.5% and 8.7% respectively. 10.6% were prescribed Letrozole for the first time. Letrozole were prescribed by oncologists (82.8%). The average number of tablets per prescription was $58{\pm}10$. Calcium supplements were prescribed concomitant with Letrozole for 19.4%. To assess drug use evaluation criteria, 45 prescriptions were excluded because of uncompleted clinical data, 636 prescriptions were evaluated. The study showed 86 prescriptions (13.5%) with inappropriate use including 6 (0.9%) not prescribed for estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) positive, 31 (4.9%) not prescribed for post-menopausal and 49 (7.7%) not prescribed for an appropriate duration. Appropriate use percentages in different health benefit schemes were similar, 85.7% of CSMBS, 86.4% of SSS and 86.7% of UCS. The relationship between health benefit scheme and appropriate use of Letrozole was not significantly different, ${\chi}^2$ (2, N = 636) = 0.081, p > 0.05. Conclusions: The study showed inappropriate use in breast cancer patients because of non-compliance with duration, menopausal status and hormone receptor requirements. To prescribe appropriate indication did not referred to the appropriate practice along the treatment. Drug use evaluation proved very useful for detecting the sign of inappropriate use and allows immediate feedback to the stakeholder for developing medication policy in the future. Importantly, there was no significantly difference in appropriate use of Letrozole across health benefit schemes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.115-121
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• 2013

Objective: Letrozole and estradiol valerate are used to treat some hormonally-responsive symptoms and also in modeling of the polycystic ovary syndrome. However, the stereological analysis of the ovary has received less attention. Estimation of the whole ovary volume using the Cavalieri method can be applied in any orientation desired, but estimation of the mean volume of the oocytes requires isotropic uniform random sectioning. Here, a combined method was developed for estimating the parameters. To our knowledge, no comparison has been made of the effects of letrozole and estradiol on the ovary. Methods: Sixty rats were divided into 4 groups receiving estradiol (4 mg/kg), olive oil, letrozole (1 mg/kg), or normal saline. After 21 days, their ovaries were studied. Results: Relative to the control group, the total volume of the ovary and the cortex increased in the letrozole-treated and estradiol-treated rats. In addition, the number of the preantral, antral, and granulosa cells decreased by 43% to 56% in the letrozole- and estradiol-treated rats. On average, a 19% increase was observed in the atretic oocytes of the letrozole-treated and estradiol-treated rats, but the mean oocyte volume decreased by 29% to 44% in letrozole- and estradiol-treated rats. Furthermore, the letrozole-treated rats showed a 5-fold and 7-fold increase in the volume of the cysts and corpus luteum, respectively. A 3-fold increase was found in the volume of both the cysts and corpus luteum in the estradiol group. Conclusion: The structural changes of the ovary were most pronounced in the letrozole-treated animals.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제59권4호
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• pp.493-502
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• 2021

We prepared and investigated a biosynthesized nanoparticulate system with high adsorption and release capacity of letrozole. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized using olive leaf extract. Cysteine was capped AgNPs to increase the adsorption capacity and suitable interaction between nanoparticles and drug. Morphology and size of nanoparticles were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanoparticles were spherical with an average diameter of less than 100 nm. Cysteine capping was successfully confirmed by Fourier transform infrared resonance (FTIR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis (CHN). Also, the factors of letrozole adsorption were optimized and the linear and non-linear forms of isotherms and kinetics were studied. Confirmation of the adsorption data of letrozole by cysteine capped nanoparticles in the Langmuir isotherm model indicated the homogeneous binding site of modified nanoparticles surface. Furthermore, the adsorption rate was kinetically adjusted to the pseudo-second-order model, and a high adsorption rate was observed, indicating that cysteine coated nanoparticles are a promising adsorbent for letrozole delivery. Finally, the kinetic release profile of letrozole loaded modified nanoparticles in simulated gastric and intestinal buffers was studied. Nearly 40% of letrozole was released in simulated gastric fluid with pH 1.2, in 30 min and the rest of it (60%) was released in simulated intestinal fluid with pH 7.4 in 10 h. These results indicate the efficiency of the cysteine capped AgNPs for adsorption and release of drug letrozole for breast cancer therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.143-153
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• 2008

목 적: 방향화효소억제제가 생식호르몬 분비 양상에 미치는 영향과 무배란 여성에서의 배란유도 효과를 평가하기 위함. 연구방법: 정상 월경주기를 가진 여성 30명을 대상으로 letrozole을 투여하지 않은 주기 (대조군)와 투여한 주기 (연구군)에서 생식호르몬 혈중치를 측정하였다. 각 월경주기 3, 11, 21일에 LH, FSH, $E_2$, testosterone, DHEA-S의 혈중치를 측정하였고 각 주기 21일에는 progesterone 측정이 추가되었다. 불임의 원인이 무배란으로 진단된 환자 60명에게 크로미펜과 letrozole을 투여한 후 (각 치료 군, 30명) 배란율, 임신율, LH 분비폭발 시점, 성장 난포 수, 자궁내막 두께, 자궁경관 점액의 양과 견사성, LH 분비폭발 시점의 난포 직경 등을 측정하여 두 군 간의 임상 효과를 비교하였다. 결 과: Letrozole은 LH, FSH, $E_2$, DHEA-S 분비에는 영향을 미치지 않았으나 letrozole 투여 주기 11일째의 testosterone과 21일째의 progesterone 혈중치는 대조군에 비해 유의한 상승을 보였다 ($0.40{\pm}0.16$ vs $0.28{\pm}0.11\;ng/ml$, p=0.002, $18.18{\pm}13.07$ vs $8.38{\pm}7.64\;ng/ml$, p=0.001). Letrozole과 크로미펜 군 간의 배란유도 효과에 대한비교에서 배란율, 임신율, 성장 난포 수, 배란 전 난포 직경에서는 두 군 간에 유의한 차이가 없었으나 크로미펜 군과 비교할 때 letrozole 군에서 조기에 LH 분비폭발이 발생했고 ($12.12{\pm}2.46$일 vs $14.52{\pm}3.18$, p=0.006), LH 분비폭발 시점에서의 자궁내막 두께가 두꺼웠으며 ($10.48{\pm}1.23$ vs $8.52{\pm}0.93\;mm$, p=0.000), 자궁경관 점액 양이 많았고 견사성이 높았다 ($2.04{\pm}0.61$ vs $1.57{\pm}0.59$, p=0.012, $6.00{\pm}1.12$ vs $4.95{\pm}1.61\;cm$, p=0.003). 결 론: Letrozole은 정상 월경주기를 가진 여성에서 난포 성장을 촉진하고 자궁내막을 호전시키며 무배란 여성에서는 크로미펜에 필적하는 배란유도 효과가 있으며 더욱 생리적인 배란유도가 이루어질 것으로 사료된다.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제35권11호
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• pp.1666-1674
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• 2022

Objective: Letrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor, is known to have the potential to modify male reproductive function by altering sex hormone levels. This study aimed to evaluate the semen and testicular characteristics and hormonal profile of aged Mrakhoz bucks (Capra hircus) treated with letrozole. Methods: Twelve Markhoz male goats, aged between 4.5 to 5.5 years with an average body weight (BW) of 61.05±4.97 kg were used for the study. Animals were randomly divided into two equal groups and subcutaneously received either 0.25 mg/kg BW of letrozole or a control every week for 2 months. The semen collections were performed every 10 days, and blood samples and testicular biometric records were collected at 20 days intervals. Results: Letrozole causes increased testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, testosterone to estradiol ratio, semen index and reaction time during the period from 20th to 60th days (p<0.05). Furthermore, letrozole-treated bucks had higher semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm per ejaculate from 30th to 60th days (p<0.05). However, no differences occurred between the groups in scrotal circumference, relative testicular volume, semen pH, abnormality, acrosome integrity, and membrane integrity of sperm during the study (p>0.05). The serum luteinizing hormone levels, sperm viability, motility, and progressive motility increased, and estradiol levels decreased after 40th to 60th days of letrozole treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Letrozole application to aged Markhoz bucks provokes reproductive hormonal axis which, in turn, induces enhancement of semen production and quality.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.180-184
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• 2011

Letrozole is a drug used in the treatment of postmenopausal women with breast and ovarian tumours. There is no evidence in the literature indicating its use in treating gastric cancer. We present a 68 year old lady admitted from the emergency department with weight loss, malaise and anaemia. Investigations confirmed the presence of two different primary tumours in the left breast and the stomach. Following that this patient with oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer and oestrogen receptor negative gastric cancer was treated with letrozole for her breast cancer followed by a gastric resection. Independent histology by two pathologists pre-operatively diagnosed gastric adenocarcinoma. Post-operatively, independent analysis of the resected stomach, omentum and lymph nodes revealed no evidence of gastric cancer. Therefore we conclude that there is a possibility of letrozole having an effect on gastric cancer. Further studies are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.73-81
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• 2010

목 적: 클로미펜을 이용한 배란유도 주기에서 불량한 자궁내막 발달을 보이는 불임 여성에서 레트로졸의 효용성을 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 2004년 3월부터 2009년 8월까지 분당서울대학교병원에서 클로미펜을 이용한 배란유도 주기에서 자궁내막 두께가 6.5 mm 이하여서 다음 주기에 레트로졸을 사용하였던 18명의 불임 여성을 선정하였다. 환자들의 평균 연령은 $30.7{\pm}2.8$세, 불임 기간은 $33.1{\pm}26.6$개월이었다. 불임의 인자는 자궁내막증이 1명, 다낭성난소증후군이 5명, 원인불명의 불임증이 12명이었다. 레트로졸은 2.5 mg의 용량으로 월경 3~5일 사이에 시작하여 5일간 투여하였다. 결 과: 이전 클로미펜 사용시와 비교하였을 때 레트로졸 주기에서 우성난포의 개수는 더 적었으나 ($1.1{\pm}0.3$ vs. $2.2{\pm}1.5$, p=0.011) 자궁내막 두께는 유의하게 증가하였으며 ($8.4{\pm}1.7$ mm vs. $5.8{\pm}0.5$ mm, p<0.001) 자궁내막 패턴 중 type C의 빈도는 이전 클로미펜 주기에서 50%이었던 것이 레트로졸 사용시 94.4%로 유의한 증가를 보였다 (p=0.036). 레트로졸을 이용한 배란 유도 주기에서 임신율은 11.1%였다. 결 론: 얇은 자궁내막 발달을 보였던 클로미펜 주기에 비해 레트로졸 사용시 자궁내막이 좀 더 두꺼워지고 패턴이 호전되는 것으로 보아 클로미펜에 불량한 자궁내막을 보이는 여성에서 이차 선택약제로 레트로졸의 사용은 유용한 방법으로 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권20호
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• pp.8975-8979
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• 2014

Objective: To explore the possible significance of aromatase P450 in endometrial hyperplasia with a background of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of aromatase P450 in endometrium of PCOS patients. Semiquantitative analysis of aromatase P450 expression of mRNA and protein level wasalso carried out by real-time quantitative RT-PCR method. After endometrial cells were stimulated by testosterone and letrozole in vitro, the estradiol ($E_2$) level was determined, and the expression of cell aromatase P450 mRNA was assessed. Results: The aromatase P450 mRNA level was increased in endometria of PCOS patients. When endometrial cells were cultured with $10^{-6}M$ testosterone, the $E_2$ level in the culture medium increased. An inhibitory effect on $E_2$ generation and expression of aromatase P450 mRNA was observed when the endometrial cells were treated with $10^{-5}M$ letrozole. Conclusions: There is an increased expression of aromatase P450 in PCOS patient endometrium. Androgen stimulation could enhance the synthesis of aromatase P450 mRNA and the production of $E_2$ in endometrial cells in vitro while letrozole could do the reverse.

• 한국산학기술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국산학기술학회 2010년도 춘계학술발표논문집 2부
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• pp.1230-1232
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• 2010

A simple, rapid and validated reverse d phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of Letrozole (LZ) in pharmaceutical dosage. LZ was separated on ODS analytical column with a mixture of acetonitrile, water in the ratio 50:50 (v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL /min. The effluent was monitored by UV detection at 265nm. Calibration plot was linear in the range of 160 to $240{\mu}g$/mL with the linear regression (r) = 0.999. The method was validated for recovery, precision, specificity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.111-119
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• 2009

목 적: 클로미펜을 사용한 배란유도시 얇은 자궁내막을 보였던 환자들에서 성선자극호르몬에 클로미펜 또는 레트로졸을 병합 투여하는 과배란유도 방법의 임상적 효용성을 비교 분석하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 이전의 클로미펜을 사용한 배란유도 주기에서 8 mm 미만의 얇은 자궁내막을 보였던 불임 환자들에서 시행된 성선자극호르몬 병합 과배란유도/인공수정 51주기가 연구에 포함되었다. 월경주기 제3일째부터 5일 동안 클로미펜+성선자극호르몬 군은 일일 클로미펜 100 mg을 투여하였고 (n=26) 레트로졸+성선자극호르몬 군은 일일 레트로졸 2.5 mg 또는 5 mg을 투여하였다 (n=25). 양 군에서 월경주기 제5~7일째부터 우성난포의 크기가 18 mm 이상에 도달할 때까지 이틀에 한 번씩 성선자극호르몬은 75~150 IU를 투여하였다. 양 군에서 성선자극호르몬 총 사용량, 자궁내막의 두께, 자궁내막의 형태, hCG 투여일의 14 mm 이상 난포의 수, hCG 투여일, 임신율, 다태 임신율을 비교하였으며 통계 분석은 Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test 등을 이용하였다. 결 과: 연령, 불임기간, 이전 인공수정 횟수, 기저 혈중 LH, FSH, $E_2$ 농도, 불임의 원인 등의 임상적 특성은 양 군간 차이가 없었다. 성선자극호르몬 병합 과배란유도시 배란전 자궁내막의 두께는 이전의 클로미펜을 사용한 주기와 비교하여 유의하게 증가되었다. 성선자극호르몬 총 사용량, hCG 투여일, 자궁내막의 삼중선 비율, 임신율 및 다태 임신율은 유의한 차이가 없었다. 클로미펜+성선자극호르몬 군에 비하여 레트로졸+성선자극호르몬 군에서 14 mm 이상 난포의 개수는 유의하게 적었고 ($3.7{\pm}1.7$ vs. $2.8{\pm}1.7$, p=0.03). 배란 전 자궁내막 두께는 유의하게 두꺼웠다 ($7.7{\pm}1.5\;mm$ vs. $9.1{\pm}1.7\;mm$, p<0.05). 결 론: 배란유도를 위하여 클로미펜 사용시 얇은 자궁내막을 보였던 환자들에서 인공수정을 위한 과배란유도시클로미펜 또는 레트로졸을 성선자극호르몬과 병합하여 사용하는 방법은 클로미펜의 자궁내막에 대한 부정적인 효과를 피할 수 있는 것으로 사료된다. 적절한 자궁내막의 발달 및 적절한 난포의 성장 측면에서 성선자극호르몬에 레트로졸을 병합하는 과배란유도 방법이 클로미펜을 병합하는 방법에 비하여 더 유용할 수 있으나 추가적인 대규모 전향적 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.