Cardiovascular event rates similar with tamoxifen or letrozole for breast cancer
Cardiovascular adverse events are relatively rare in early breast cancer patients during adjuvant endocrine therapy using letrozole or tamoxifen, but the type of such events differs depending on the agent employed, according to findings from the Breast International Group 1-98 study.
“The overall incidence of cardiotoxicity was small and similar with the two agents,” lead investigator Dr. Henning Mouridsen told Reuters Health, “although there was a one percent increased risk of more severe cardiotoxicity with letrozole. Tamoxifen was associated with a two percent increased risk of thromboembolic disease.”
Cardiovascular adverse events are relatively rare in early breast cancer patients during adjuvant endocrine therapy using letrozole or tamoxifen, but the type of such events differs depending on the agent employed, according to findings from the Breast International Group 1-98 study.
“The overall incidence of cardiotoxicity was small and similar with the two agents,” lead investigator Dr. Henning Mouridsen told Reuters Health, “although there was a one percent increased risk of more severe cardiotoxicity with letrozole. Tamoxifen was associated with a two percent increased risk of thromboembolic disease.”