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LETROZOLE (letrozole 2.5 mg) Dailymed

  1. Human Prescription
  2. Aromatase Inhibitor
  3. Physicians Total Care, Inc.

Generic: letrozole is used for the treatment of Breast Neoplasms Pregnancy

LETROZOLE tablet, film coated - (letrozole 2.5 mg) image

IMPRINT: M L71     SHAPE: round
    COLOR: pink

  1. FDA Adverse Reactions

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Recent Major Changes Section


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Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer (1.1, 2.2) 04/2010

1 Indications And Usage


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Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor indicated for:
  • Adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive early breast cancer. (1.1)
  • Extended adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with early breast cancer who have received prior standard adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. (1.2)
  • First and second-line treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive or unknown advanced breast cancer. (1.3)

1.1 Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer


Letrozole tablets are indicated for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive early breast cancer.

1.2 Extended Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer


Letrozole tablets are indicated for the extended adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in postmenopausal women, who have received 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. The effectiveness of letrozole in extended adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer is based on an analysis of disease-free survival in patients treated with letrozole tablets for a median of 60 months [see Clinical Studies (14.2, 14.3)].

1.3 First and Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer


Letrozole tablets are indicated for first-line treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive or unknown, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Letrozole tablets are also indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following antiestrogen therapy [see Clinical Studies (14.4, 14.5)].

2 Dosage And Administration


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Letrozole tablets are taken orally without regard to meals (2):
  • Recommended dose: 2.5 mg once daily (2.1)
  • Patients with cirrhosis or severe hepatic impairment: 2.5 mg every other day (2.5, 5.3)


The recommended dose of letrozole tablets is one 2.5 mg tablet administered once a day, without regard to meals.

2.2 Use in Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer


In the adjuvant setting, the optimal duration of treatment with letrozole tablets is unknown. The planned duration of treatment in the study was 5 years with 73% of the patients having completed adjuvant therapy. Treatment should be discontinued at relapse [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].

2.3 Use in Extended Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer


In the extended adjuvant setting, the optimal treatment duration with letrozole tablets is not known. The planned duration of treatment in the study was 5 years. In the final updated analysis, conducted at a median follow-up of 62 months, the median treatment duration was 60 months. Seventy-one percent of patients were treated for at least 3 years and 58% of patients completed least 4.5 years of extended adjuvant treatment. The treatment should be discontinued at tumor relapse [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].

2.4 Use in First and Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer


In patients with advanced disease, treatment with letrozole tablets should continue until tumor progression is evident [see Clinical Studies (14.4, 14.5)].

2.5 Use in Hepatic Impairment


No dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment, although letrozole blood concentrations were modestly increased in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment due to cirrhosis. The dose of letrozole in patients with cirrhosis and severe hepatic dysfunction should be reduced by 50% [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. The recommended dose of letrozole tablets for such patients is 2.5 mg administered every other day. The effect of hepatic impairment on letrozole tablets exposure in noncirrhotic cancer patients with elevated bilirubin levels has not been determined.

2.6 Use in Renal Impairment


No dosage adjustment is required for patients with renal impairment if creatinine clearance is ≥ 10 mL/min [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]

3 Dosage Forms And Strengths


2.5 mg tablets: pink film-coated, round tablets debossed with M on one side of the tablet and L71 on the other side.


2.5 mg tablets (3)

4 Contraindications


Letrozole tablets may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman and the clinical benefit to premenopausal women with breast cancer has not been demonstrated. Letrozole tablets are contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant. If letrozole tablets are used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].


Women of premenopausal endocrine status, including pregnant women (4)

5 Warnings And Precautions


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  • Decreases in bone mineral density may occur. Consider bone mineral density monitoring. (5.1)
  • Increases in total cholesterol may occur. Consider cholesterol monitoring. (5.2)
  • Fatigue, dizziness and somnolence may occur. Exercise caution when operating machinery. (5.4)

5.1 Bone Effects


Use of letrozole may cause decreases in bone mineral density (BMD). Consideration should be given to monitoring BMD. Results of a substudy to evaluate safety in the adjuvant setting comparing the effect on lumbar spine (L2 to L4) bone mineral density (BMD) of adjuvant treatment with letrozole to that with tamoxifen showed at 24 months a median decrease in lumbar spine BMD of 4.1% in the letrozole arm compared to a median increase of 0.3% in the tamoxifen arm (difference = 4.4%) (P < 0.0001) [see Adverse reactions (6.1)]. Updated results from the BMD sub-study in the extended adjuvant setting demonstrated that at 2 years patients receiving letrozole had a median decrease from baseline of 3.8% in hip BMD compared to a median decrease of 2% in the placebo group. The changes from baseline in lumbar spine BMD in letrozole and placebo treated groups were not significantly different [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

In the adjuvant trial the incidence of bone fractures at any time after randomization was 13.8% for letrozole and 10.5% for tamoxifen. The incidence of osteoporosis was 5.1% for letrozole and 2.7% for tamoxifen [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. In the extended adjuvant trial the incidence of bone fractures at any time after randomization was 13.3% for letrozole and 7.8% for placebo. The incidence of new osteoporosis was 14.5% for letrozole and 7.8% for placebo [see Adverse Reactions (6.3)].

5.2 Cholesterol


Consideration should be given to monitoring serum cholesterol. In the adjuvant trial hypercholesterolemia was reported in 52.3% of letrozole patients and 28.6% of tamoxifen patients. CTC grade 3 to 4 hypercholesterolemia was reported in 0.4% of letrozole patients and 0.1% of tamoxifen patients. Also in the adjuvant setting, an increase of > 1.5 X ULN in total cholesterol (generally non-fasting) was observed in patients on monotherapy who had baseline total serum cholesterol within the normal range (i.e., < = 1.5 X ULN) in 151/1843 (8.2%) on letrozole vs. 57/1,840 (3.2%). Lipid lowering medications were required for 25% of patients on letrozole and 16% on tamoxifen [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

5.3 Hepatic Impairment


Subjects with cirrhosis and severe hepatic impairment who were dosed with 2.5 mg of letrozole experienced approximately twice the exposure to letrozole as healthy volunteers with normal liver function. Therefore, a dose reduction is recommended for this patient population. The effect of hepatic impairment on letrozole exposure in cancer patients with elevated bilirubin levels has not been determined [see Dosage and Administration (2.5)].

5.4 Fatigue and Dizziness


Because fatigue, dizziness and somnolence have been reported with the use of letrozole, caution is advised when driving or using machinery until it is known how the patient reacts to letrozole use.

5.5 Laboratory Test Abnormalities


No dose related effect of letrozole on any hematologic or clinical chemistry parameter was evident. Moderate decreases in lymphocyte counts, of uncertain clinical significance, were observed in some patients receiving letrozole 2.5 mg. This depression was transient in about half of those affected. Two patients on letrozole developed thrombocytopenia; relationship to the study drug was unclear. Patient withdrawal due to laboratory abnormalities, whether related to study treatment or not, was infrequent.

6 Adverse Reactions


The most serious adverse reactions from the use of letrozole are:
  • Bone effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
  • Increases in cholesterol [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.


The most common adverse reactions (> 20%) were hot flashes, arthralgia (6.1); flushing, asthenia, edema, arthralgia, headache, dizziness, hypercholesterolemia, sweating increased, bone pain (6.2, 6.3); and musculoskeletal (6.4).

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-877-446-3679 (1-877-4-INFO-RX) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1 Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer


The median treatment duration of adjuvant treatment was 60 months and the median duration of follow-up for safety was 73 months for patients receiving letrozole and tamoxifen.

Certain adverse reactions were prospectively specified for analysis, based on the known pharmacologic properties and side effect profiles of the two drugs.

Adverse reactions were analyzed irrespective of whether a symptom was present or absent at baseline. Most adverse reactions reported (approximately 75% of patients reporting one or more AE) were Grade 1 or Grade 2 applying the Common Toxicity Criteria Version 2.0/ Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0. Table 1 describes adverse reactions (Grades 1 to 4) irrespective of relationship to study treatment in the adjuvant trial for the monotherapy arms analysis (safety population).
Table 1: Patients with Adverse Reactions (CTC Grades 1 to 4, Irrespective of Relationship to Study Drug) in the Adjuvant Study – Monotherapy Arms Analysis (Median Follow-up 73 Months; Median Treatment 60 Months)
Grades 1 to 4 Grades 3 to 4
Adverse Reaction
Letrozole

N = 2,448
n (%)
Tamoxifen

N = 2,447
n (%)
Letrozole

N = 2,448
n (%)
Tamoxifen

N = 2,447
n (%)
Pts with any adverse event 2,310 (94.4) 2,214 (90.5) 635 (25.9) 604 (24.7)
Hypercholesterolemia 1,280 (52.3) 700 (28.6) 11 (0.4) 6 (0.2)
Hot Flashes/Flushes 821 (33.5) 929 (38) 0 - 0 -
Arthralgia/Arthritis 618 (25.2) 501 (20.4) 85 (3.5) 50 (2)
Night Sweats 357 (14.6) 426 (17.4) 0 - 0 -
Bone Fractures* 338 (13.8) 257 (10.5) - - - -
Weight Increase 317 (12.9) 378 (15.4) 27 (1.1) 39 (1.6)
Nausea 283 (11.6) 277 (11.3) 6 (0.2) 9 (0.4)
Bone Fractures† 247 (10.1) 174 (7.1) - - - -
Fatigue (Lethargy, Malaise, Asthenia) 235 (9.6) 250 (10.2) 6 (0.2) 7 (0.3)
Myalgia 217 (8.9) 212 (8.7) 18 (0.7) 14 (0.6)
Edema 164 (6.7) 160 (6.5) 3 (0.1) 1 (< 0.1)
Weight Decrease 140 (5.7) 129 (5.3) 8 (0.3) 5 (0.2)
Vaginal Bleeding 128 (5.2) 320 (13.1) 1 (< 0.1) 8 (0.3)
Back Pain 125 (5.1) 136 (5.6) 7 (0.3) 11 (0.4)
Osteoporosis NOS 124 (5.1) 66 (2.7) 10 (0.4) 5 (0.2)
Bone pain 123 (5) 109 (4.5) 6 (0.2) 4 (0.2)
Depression 119 (4.9) 114 (4.7) 16 (0.7) 14 (0.6)
Vaginal Irritation 111 (4.5) 77 (3.1) 2 (< 0.1) 2 (< 0.1)
Headache 105 (4.3) 94 (3.8) 9 (0.4) 5 (0.2)
Pain in extremity 103 (4.2) 79 (3.2) 6 (0.2) 4 (0.2)
Osteopenia 87 (3.6) 74 (3) 0 - 2 (< 0.1)
Dizziness/Light-Headedness 84 (3.4) 84 (3.4) 1 (< 0.1) 6 (0.2)
Alopecia 83 (3.4) 84 (3.4) 0 - 0 -
Vomiting 80 (3.3) 80 (3.3) 3 (0.1) 5 (0.2)
Cataract 49 (2) 54 (2.2) 16 (0.7) 17 (0.7)
Constipation 49 (2) 71 (2.9) 3 (0.1) 1 (< 0.1)
Breast pain 37 (1.5) 43 (1.8) 1 (< 0.1) 0 -
Anorexia 20 (0.8) 20 (0.8) 1 (< 0.1) 1 (< 0.1)
Endometrial Hyperplasia/Cancer* ‡ 11/1,909 (0.6) 70/1,943 (3.6) - - - -
Endometrial Proliferation Disorders 10 (0.3) 71 (1.8) 0 - 14 (0.6)
Endometrial Hyperplasia/Cancer† ‡ 6/1,909 (0.3) 57/1,943 (2.9) - - - -
Other Endometrial Disorders 2 (< 0.1) 3 (0.1) 0 - 0 -
Myocardial Infarction† 24 (1) 12 (0.5) - - - -
Myocardial Infarction* 37 (1.5) 25 (1) - - - -
Myocardial Ischemia 6 (0.2) 9 ( 0.4) - - - -
Cerebrovascular Accident† 52 (2.1) 46 (1.9) - - - -
Cerebrovascular Accident* 70 (2.9) 63 (2.6) - - - -
Angina† 26 (1.1) 24 (1) - - - -
Angina* 32 (1.3) 31 (1.3) - - - -
Thromboembolic Event† 51 (2.1) 89 (3.6) - - - -
Thromboembolic Event* 71 (2.9) 111 (4.5) - - - -
Other Cardiovascular† 260 (10.6) 256 (10.5) - - - -
Other Cardiovascular* 312 (12.7) 337 (13.8) - - - -
Second Malignancies† 53 (2.2) 78 (3.2) - - - -
Second Malignancies* 102 (4.2) 119 (4.9) - - - -

Note: Cardiovascular (including cerebrovascular and thromboembolic), skeletal and urogenital/endometrial events and second malignancies were collected life-long. All of these events were assumed to be of CTC grade 3 to 5 and were not individually graded.
*Any time after randomization, including post treatment follow-up †During study treatment, based on Safety Monotherapy population‡Excluding women who had undergone hysterectomy before study en
When considering all grades during study treatment, a higher incidence of events was seen for letrozole regarding fractures (10.1% vs. 7.1%), myocardial infarctions (1% vs. 0.5%), and arthralgia (25.2% vs. 20.4%) (letrozole vs. tamoxifen respectively). A higher incidence was seen for tamoxifen regarding thromboembolic events (2.1% vs. 3.6%), endometrial hyperplasia/cancer (0.3% vs. 2.9%), and endometrial proliferation disorders (0.3% vs. 1.8%) (letrozole vs. tamoxifen respectively).

At a median follow up of 73 months, a higher incidence of events was seen for letrozole (13.8%) than for tamoxifen (10.5%) regarding fractures. A higher incidence was seen for tamoxifen compared to letrozole regarding thromboembolic events (4.5% vs. 2.9%), and endometrial hyperplasia or cancer (2.9% vs. 0.4%) (tamoxifen vs. letrozole, respectively).
Bone Study
Results of a phase 3 safety trial in 262 post menopausal women with resected receptor positive early breast cancer in the adjuvant setting comparing the effect on lumbar spine (L2 to L4) bone mineral density (BMD) of adjuvant treatment with letrozole to that with tamoxifen showed at 24 months a median decrease in lumbar spine BMD of 4.1% in the letrozole arm compared to a median increase of 0.3% in the tamoxifen arm (difference = 4.4%) (P < 0.0001). No patients with a normal BMD at baseline became osteoporotic over the 2 years and only one patient with osteopenia at baseline (T score of -1.9) developed osteoporosis during the treatment period (assessment by central review). The results for total hip BMD were similar, although the differences between the two treatments were less pronounced. During the 2-year period, fractures were reported by 4 of 103 patients (4%) in the letrozole arm and 6 of 97 patients (6%) in the tamoxifen arm.
Lipid Study
In a phase 3 safety trial in 262 post menopausal women with resected receptor positive early breast cancer at 24 months comparing the effects on lipid profiles of adjuvant letrozole to tamoxifen, 12% of patients on letrozole had at least one total cholesterol value of a higher CTCAE grade than at baseline compared with 4% of patients on tamoxifen.

6.2 Extended Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer, Median Treatment Duration of 24 Months


The median duration of extended adjuvant treatment was 24 months and the median duration of follow-up for safety was 28 months for patients receiving letrozole and placebo.

Table 2 describes the adverse reactions occurring at a frequency of at least 5% in any treatment group during treatment. Most adverse reactions reported were Grade 1 and Grade 2 based on the Common Toxicity Criteria Version 2.0. In the extended adjuvant setting, the reported drug-related adverse reactions that were significantly different from placebo were hot flashes, arthralgia/arthritis and myalgia.
Table 2: Percentage of Patients with Adverse Reactions
Number (%) of Patients with Grade 1 to 4 Adverse Reaction Number (%) of Patients with Grade 3 to 4 Adverse Reaction

Letrozole
N = 2,563
Placebo
N = 2,573
Letrozole
N = 2,563
Placebo
N = 2,573
Any Adverse Reaction 2,232 (87.1) 2,174 (84.5) 419 (16.3) 389 (15.1)
Vascular Disorders 1,375 (53.6) 1,230 (47.8) 59 (2.3) 74 (2.9)
     Flushing 1,273 (49.7) 1,114 (43.3) 3 (0.1) 0 -
General Disorders 1,154 (45) 1,090 (42.4) 30 (1.2) 28 (1.1)
     Asthenia 862 (33.6) 826 (32.1) 16 (0.6) 7 (0.3)
     Edema NOS 471 (18.4) 416 (16.2) 4 (0.2) 3 (0.1)
Musculoskeletal Disorders 978 (38.2) 836 (32.5) 71 (2.8) 50 (1.9)
     Arthralgia 565 (22) 465 (18.1) 25 (1) 20 (0.8)
     Arthritis NOS 173 (6.7) 124 (4.8) 10 (0.4) 5 (0.2)
     Myalgia 171 (6.7) 122 (4.7) 8 (0.3) 6 (0.2)
     Back Pain 129 (5) 112 (4.4) 8 (0.3) 7 (0.3)
Nervous System Disorders 863 (33.7) 819 (31.8) 65 (2.5) 58 (2.3)
     Headache 516 (20.1) 508 (19.7) 18 (0.7) 17 (0.7)
     Dizziness 363 (14.2) 342 (13.3) 9 (0.4) 6 (0.2)
Skin Disorders 830 (32.4) 787 (30.6) 17 (0.7) 16 (0.6)
     Sweating Increased 619 (24.2) 577 (22.4) 1 (< 0.1) 0 -
Gastrointestinal Disorders 725 (28.3) 731 (28.4) 43 (1.7) 42 (1.6)
     Constipation 290 (11.3) 304 (11.8) 6 (0.2) 2 (< 0.1)
     Nausea 221 (8.6) 212 (8.2) 3 (0.1) 10 (0.4)
     Diarrhea NOS 128 (5) 143 (5.6) 12 (0.5) 8 (0.3)
Metabolic Disorders 551 (21.5) 537 (20.9) 24 (0.9) 32 (1.2)
     Hypercholesterolemia 401 (15.6) 398 (15.5) 2 (< 0.1) 5 (0.2)
Reproductive Disorders 303 (11.8) 357 (13.9) 9 (0.4) 8 (0.3)
     Vaginal Hemorrhage 123 (4.8) 171 (6.6) 2 (< 0.1) 5 (0.2)
     Vulvovaginal Dryness 137 (5.3) 127 (4.9) 0 - 0 -
Psychiatric Disorders 320 (12.5) 276 (10.7) 21 (0.8) 16 (0.6)
     Insomnia 149 (5.8) 120 (4.7) 2 (< 0.1) 2 (< 0.1)
Respiratory Disorders 279 (10.9) 260 (10.1) 30 (1.2) 28 (1.1)
     Dyspnea 140 (5.5) 137 (5.3) 21 (0.8) 18 (0.7)
Investigations 184 (7.2) 147 (5.7) 13 (0.5) 13 (0.5)
Infections and Infestations 166 (6.5) 163 (6.3) 40 (1.6) 33 (1.3)
Renal Disorders 130 (5.1) 100 (3.9) 12 (0.5) 6 (0.2)

Based on a median follow-up of patients for 28 months,the incidence of clinical fractures from the core randomized study in patients who received letrozole was 5.9% (152) and placebo was 5.5% (142). The incidence of self-reported osteoporosis was higher in patients who received letrozole 6.9% (176) than in patients who received placebo 5.5% (141). Bisphosphonates were administered to 21.1% of the patients who received letrozole and 18.7% of the patients who received placebo.

The incidence of cardiovascular ischemic events from the core randomized study was comparable between patients who received letrozole 6.8% (175) and placebo 6.5% (167).

A patient-reported measure that captures treatment impact on important symptoms associated with estrogen deficiency demonstrated a difference in favor of placebo for vasomotor and sexual symptom domains.
Bone Sub-Study
[see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Lipid Sub-Study
In the extended adjuvant setting, based on a median duration of follow-up of 62 months, there was no significant difference between letrozole and placebo in total cholesterol or in any lipid fraction at any time over 5 years. Use of lipid lowering drugs or dietary management of elevated lipids was allowed [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

6.3 Updated Analysis, Extended Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer, Median Treatment Duration of 60 Months


The extended adjuvant treatment trial was unblinded early [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. At the updated (final analysis), overall the side effects seen were consistent to those seen at a median treatment duration of 24 months.

During treatment or within 30 days of stopping treatment (median duration of treatment 60 months) a higher rate of fractures was observed for letrozole (10.4%) compared to placebo (5.8%), as also a higher rate of osteoporosis (letrozole 12.2% vs. placebo 6.4%).

Based on 62 months median duration of follow-up in the randomized letrozole arm in the Safety population the incidence of new fractures at any time after randomization was 13.3% for letrozole and 7.8% for placebo. The incidence of new osteoporosis was 14.5% for letrozole and 7.8% for placebo. During treatment or within 30 days of stopping treatment (median duration of treatment 60 months) the incidence of cardiovascular events was 9.8% for letrozole and 7% for placebo.

Based on 62 months median duration of follow-up in the randomized letrozole arm in the Safety population the incidence of cardiovascular disease at any time after randomization was 14.4% for letrozole and 9.8% for placebo.
Lipid Sub-Study
In the extended adjuvant setting, based on a median duration of follow-up of 62 months, there was no significant difference between letrozole and placebo in total cholesterol or in any lipid fraction over 5 years. Use of lipid lowering drugs or dietary management of elevated lipids was allowed [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

6.4 First-Line Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer


A total of 455 patients were treated for a median time of exposure of 11 months. The incidence of adverse reactions was similar for letrozole and tamoxifen. The most frequently reported adverse reactions were bone pain, hot flushes, back pain, nausea, arthralgia and dyspnea. Discontinuations for adverse reactions other than progression of tumor occurred in 10/455 (2%) of patients on letrozole and in 15/455 (3%) of patients on tamoxifen.

Adverse reactions, regardless of relationship to study drug, that were reported in at least 5% of the patients treated with letrozole 2.5 mg or tamoxifen 20 mg in the first-line treatment study are shown in Table 3.
Table 3: Percentage (%) of Patients with Adverse Reactions

Adverse
Reaction
Letrozole

2.5 mg

(N = 455)
%
Tamoxifen

20 mg

(N = 455)
%
General Disorders
     Fatigue 13 13
     Chest Pain 8 9
     Edema Peripheral 5 6
     Pain NOS 5 7
     Weakness 6 4
Investigations
     Weight Decreased 7 5
Vascular Disorders
     Hot Flushes 19 16
     Hypertension 8 4
Gastrointestinal Disorders
     Nausea 17 17
     Constipation 10 11
     Diarrhea 8 4
     Vomiting 7 8
Infections/Infestations
     Influenza 6 4
     Urinary Tract Infection NOS 6 3
Injury, Poisoning and Procedural Complications
     Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema 7 7
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders
     Anorexia 4 6
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders
     Bone Pain 22 21
     Back Pain 18 19
     Arthralgia 16 15
     Pain in Limb 10 8
Nervous System Disorders
     Headache NOS 8 7
Psychiatric Disorders
     Insomnia 7 4
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders
     Breast Pain 7 7
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders
     Dyspnea 18 17
     Cough 13 13
     Chest Wall Pain 6 6

 Other less frequent (≤ 2%) adverse reactions considered consequential for both treatment groups, included peripheral thromboembolic events, cardiovascular events and cerebrovascular events. Peripheral thromboembolic events included venous thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, portal vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Cardiovascular events included angina, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia and coronary heart disease. Cerebrovascular events included transient ischemic attacks, thrombotic or hemorrhagic strokes and development of hemiparesis.

6.5 Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer


Study discontinuations in the megestrol acetate comparison study for adverse reactions other than progression of tumor were 5/188 (2.7%) on letrozole 0.5 mg, in 4/174 (2.3%) on letrozole 2.5 mg, and in 15/190 (7.9%) on megestrol acetate. There were fewer thromboembolic events at both letrozole doses than on the megestrol acetate arm (0.6% vs. 4.7%). There was also less vaginal bleeding (0.3% vs. 3.2%) on letrozole than on megestrol acetate. In the aminoglutethimide comparison study, discontinuations for reasons other than progression occurred in 6/193 (3.1%) on 0.5 mg letrozole, 7/185 (3.8%) on 2.5 mg letrozole, and 7/178 (3.9%) of patients on aminoglutethimide.

Comparisons of the incidence of adverse reactions revealed no significant differences between the high and low dose letrozole groups in either study. Most of the adverse reactions observed in all treatment groups were mild to moderate in severity and it was generally not possible to distinguish adverse reactions due to treatment from the consequences of the patient’s metastatic breast cancer, the effects of estrogen deprivation, or intercurrent illness.

Adverse reactions, regardless of relationship to study drug, that were reported in at least 5% of the patients treated with letrozole 0.5 mg, letrozole 2.5 mg, megestrol acetate, or aminoglutethimide in the two controlled trials are shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Percentage (%) of Patients with Adverse Reactions

Adverse
Reaction
Pooled

Letrozole

2.5 mg

(N = 359)
%
Pooled

Letrozole

0.5 mg

(N = 380)
%
Megestrol

Acetate

160 mg

(N = 189)
%
Aminoglutethimide

500 mg

(N = 178)
%
Body as a Whole
     Fatigue 8 6 11 3
     Chest Pain 6 3 7 3
     Peripheral Edema* 5 5 8 3
     Asthenia 4 5 4 5
     Weight Increase 2 2 9 3
Cardiovascular
     Hypertension 5 7 5 6
Digestive System
     Nausea 13 15 9 14
     Vomiting 7 7 5 9
     Constipation 6 7 9 7
     Diarrhea 6 5 3 4
     Pain-Abdominal 6 5 9 8
     Anorexia 5 3 5 5
     Dyspepsia 3 4 6 5
Infections/Infestations
     Viral Infection 6 5 6 3
Lab Abnormality
     Hypercholesterolemia 3 3 0 6
Musculoskeletal System
     Musculoskeletal† 21 22 30 14
     Arthralgia 8 8 8 3
Nervous System
     Headache 9 12 9 7
     Somnolence 3 2 2 9
     Dizziness 3 5 7 3
Respiratory System
     Dyspnea 7 9 16 5
     Coughing 6 5 7 5
Skin and Appendages
     Hot Flushes 6 5 4 3
     Rash‡ 5 4 3 12
     Pruritus 1 2 5 3

 
*Includes peripheral edema, leg edema, dependent edema, edema.†Includes musculoskeletal pain, skeletal pain, back pain, arm pain, leg pain.‡Includes rash, erythematous rash, maculopapular rash, psoriasiform rash, vesicular rash. Other less frequent (< 5%) adverse reactions considered consequential and reported in at least three patients treated with letrozole, included hypercalcemia, fracture, depression, anxiety, pleural effusion, alopecia, increased sweating and vertigo.

6.6 First and Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer


In the combined analysis of the first- and second-line metastatic trials and post-marketing experiences other adverse reactions that were reported were cataract, eye irritation, palpitations, cardiac failure, tachycardia, dysesthesia (including hypesthesia/paresthesia), arterial thrombosis, memory impairment, irritability, nervousness, urticaria, increased urinary frequency, leukopenia, stomatitis cancer pain, pyrexia, vaginal discharge, appetite increase, dryness of skin and mucosa (including dry mouth), and disturbances of taste and thirst.

6.7 Post-Marketing Experience


Cases of blurred vision, increased hepatic enzymes, angioedema, anaphylactic reactions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme and hepatitis have been reported.

7 Drug Interactions


Tamoxifen: Coadministration of letrozole and tamoxifen 20 mg daily resulted in a reduction of letrozole plasma levels of 38% on average. Clinical experience in the second-line breast cancer trials indicates that the therapeutic effect of letrozole therapy is not impaired if letrozole is administered immediately after tamoxifen.

Cimetidine: A pharmacokinetic interaction study with cimetidine showed no clinically significant effect on letrozole pharmacokinetics.

Warfarin: An interaction study with warfarin showed no clinically significant effect of letrozole on warfarin pharmacokinetics.

Other Anticancer Agents: There is no clinical experience to date on the use of letrozole in combination with other anticancer agents.

8 Use In Specific Populations


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8.1 Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category X
[see Contraindications (4)]. Letrozole may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman and the clinical benefit to premenopausal women with breast cancer has not been demonstrated. Letrozole is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus.

Letrozole caused adverse pregnancy outcomes, including congenital malformations, in rats and rabbits at doses much smaller than the daily maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) on a mg/m2 basis. Effects included increased post-implantation pregnancy loss and resorptions, fewer live fetuses, and fetal malformations affecting the renal and skeletal systems. Animal data and letrozole’s mechanism of action raise concerns that letrozole could be a human teratogen as well.

Reproduction studies in rats showed embryo and fetal toxicity at letrozole doses during organogenesis equal to or greater than 1/100 the daily maximum recommended human dose (MHRD) (mg/m2 basis). Adverse effects included: intrauterine mortality; increased resorptions and postimplantation loss; decreased numbers of live fetuses; and fetal anomalies including absence and shortening of renal papilla, dilation of ureter, edema and incomplete ossification of frontal skull and metatarsals. Letrozole doses 1/10 the daily MHRD (mg/m2 basis) caused fetal domed head and cervical/centrum vertebral fusion. In rabbits, letrozole caused embryo and fetal toxicity at doses about 1/100,000 and 1/10,000 the daily MHRD respectively (mg/m2 basis). Fetal anomalies included incomplete ossification of the skull, sternebrae and fore- and hind legs [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.2)].

Physicians should discuss the need for adequate contraception with women who are recently menopausal. Contraception should be used until postmenopausal status is clinically well established.

8.3 Nursing Mothers


It is not known if letrozole is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from letrozole, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

8.4 Pediatric Use


The safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

8.5 Geriatric Use


The median age of patients in all studies of first-line and second-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer was 64 to 65 years. About 1/3 of the patients were > 70 years old. In the first-line study, patients ≥70 years of age experienced longer time to tumor progression and higher response rates than patients < 70.

For the extended adjuvant setting, more than 5,100 postmenopausal women were enrolled in the clinical study. In total, 41% of patients were aged 65 years or older at enrollment, while 12% were 75 or older. In the extended adjuvant setting, no overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed between these older patients and younger patients, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

In the adjuvant setting, more than 8,000 postmenopausal women were enrolled in the clinical study. In total, 36 % of patients were aged 65 years or older at enrollment, while 12% were 75 or older. More adverse reactions were generally reported in elderly patients irrespective of study treatment allocation. However, in comparison to tamoxifen, no overall differences with regards to the safety and efficacy profiles were observed between elderly patients and younger patients.

10 Overdosage


Isolated cases of letrozole overdose have been reported. In these instances, the highest single dose ingested was 62.5 mg or 25 tablets. While no serious adverse reactions were reported in these cases, because of the limited data available, no firm recommendations for treatment can be made. However, emesis could be induced if the patient is alert. In general, supportive care and frequent monitoring of vital signs are also appropriate. In single-dose studies, the highest dose used was 30 mg, which was well tolerated; in multiple-dose trials, the largest dose of 10 mg was well tolerated.

Lethality was observed in mice and rats following single oral doses that were equal to or greater than 2000 mg/kg (about 4,000 to 8,000 times the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis); death was associated with reduced motor activity, ataxia and dyspnea. Lethality was observed in cats following single IV doses that were equal to or greater than 10 mg/kg (about 50 times the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis); death was preceded by depressed blood pressure and arrhythmias.

11 Description


Letrozole tablets for oral administration contains 2.5 mg of letrozole, a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (inhibitor of estrogen synthesis). It is chemically described as 4,4'-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethylene)dibenzonitrile, and its structural formula is:



Letrozole, USP is a white to off-white powder, freely soluble in dichloromethane, slightly soluble in ethanol and practically insoluble in water. It has a molecular weight of 285.31, molecular formula C17H11N5, and a melting range of 184°C to 185°C.

Letrozole tablets, USP are available as 2.5 mg tablets for oral administration. Each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, D&C Red No. 27 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake, hypromellose, lactose anhydrous, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, pregelatinized starch, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium starch glycolate, titanium dioxide and triacetin.

12 Clinical Pharmacology


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12.1 Mechanism of Action


The growth of some cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. Treatment of breast cancer thought to be hormonally responsive (i.e., estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive or receptor unknown) has included a variety of efforts to decrease estrogen levels (ovariectomy, adrenalectomy, hypophysectomy) or inhibit estrogen effects (antiestrogens and progestational agents). These interventions lead to decreased tumor mass or delayed progression of tumor growth in some women.

In postmenopausal women, estrogens are mainly derived from the action of the aromatase enzyme, which converts adrenal androgens (primarily androstenedione and testosterone) to estrone and estradiol. The suppression of estrogen biosynthesis in peripheral tissues and in the cancer tissue itself can therefore be achieved by specifically inhibiting the aromatase enzyme.

Letrozole is a non-steroidal competitive inhibitor of the aromatase enzyme system; it inhibits the conversion of androgens to estrogens. In adult nontumor- and tumor-bearing female animals, letrozole is as effective as ovariectomy in reducing uterine weight, elevating serum LH and causing the regression of estrogen-dependent tumors. In contrast to ovariectomy, treatment with letrozole does not lead to an increase in serum FSH. Letrozole selectively inhibits gonadal steroidogenesis but has no significant effect on adrenal mineralocorticoid or glucocorticoid synthesis.

Letrozole inhibits the aromatase enzyme by competitively binding to the heme of the cytochrome P450 subunit of the enzyme, resulting in a reduction of estrogen biosynthesis in all tissues. Treatment of women with letrozole significantly lowers serum estrone, estradiol and estrone sulfate and has not been shown to significantly affect adrenal corticosteroid synthesis, aldosterone synthesis, or synthesis of thyroid hormones.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics


In postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer, daily doses of 0.1 mg to 5 mg letrozole suppress plasma concentrations of estradiol, estrone and estrone sulfate by 75% to 95% from baseline with maximal suppression achieved within 2 to 3 days. Suppression is dose related, with doses of 0.5 mg and higher giving many values of estrone and estrone sulfate that were below the limit of detection in the assays. Estrogen suppression was maintained throughout treatment in all patients treated at 0.5 mg or higher.

Letrozole is highly specific in inhibiting aromatase activity. There is no impairment of adrenal steroidogenesis. No clinically-relevant changes were found in the plasma concentrations of cortisol, aldosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, 17-hydroxy-progesterone, ACTH or in plasma renin activity among postmenopausal patients treated with a daily dose of letrozole 0.1 mg to 5 mg. The ACTH stimulation test performed after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment with daily doses of 0.1 mg, 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2.5 mg and 5 mg did not indicate any attenuation of aldosterone or cortisol production. Glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid supplementation is, therefore, not necessary.

No changes were noted in plasma concentrations of androgens (androstenedione and testosterone) among healthy postmenopausal women after 0.1 mg, 0.5 mg and 2.5 mg single doses of letrozole or in plasma concentrations of androstenedione among postmenopausal patients treated with daily doses of 0.1 mg to 5 mg. This indicates that the blockade of estrogen biosynthesis does not lead to accumulation of androgenic precursors. Plasma levels of LH and FSH were not affected by letrozole in patients, nor was thyroid function as evaluated by TSH levels, T3 uptake, and T4 levels.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Absorption and Distribution
Letrozole is rapidly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and absorption is not affected by food. It is metabolized slowly to an inactive metabolite whose glucuronide conjugate is excreted renally, representing the major clearance pathway. About 90% of radiolabeled letrozole is recovered in urine. Letrozole’s terminal elimination half-life is about 2 days and steady-state plasma concentration after daily 2.5 mg dosing is reached in 2 to 6 weeks. Plasma concentrations at steady-state are 1.5 to 2 times higher than predicted from the concentrations measured after a single dose, indicating a slight non-linearity in the pharmacokinetics of letrozole upon daily administration of 2.5 mg. These steady-state levels are maintained over extended periods, however, and continuous accumulation of letrozole does not occur. Letrozole is weakly protein bound and has a large volume of distribution (approximately 1.9 L/kg).
Metabolism and Excretion
Metabolism to a pharmacologically-inactive carbinol metabolite (4,4'methanol-bisbenzonitrile) and renal excretion of the glucuronide conjugate of this metabolite is the major pathway of letrozole clearance. Of the radiolabel recovered in urine, at least 75% was the glucuronide of the carbinol metabolite, about 9% was two unidentified metabolites and 6% was unchanged letrozole. In human microsomes with specific CYP isozyme activity, CYP3A4 metabolized letrozole to the carbinol metabolite while CYP2A6 formed both this metabolite and its ketone analog. In human liver microsomes, letrozole strongly inhibited CYP2A6 and moderately inhibited CYP2C19.
Pediatric, Geriatric and Race
In the study populations (adults ranging in age from 35 to > 80 years), no change in pharmacokinetic parameters was observed with increasing age. Differences in letrozole pharmacokinetics between adult and pediatric populations have not been studied. Differences in letrozole pharmacokinetics due to race have not been studied.
Renal Impairment
In a study of volunteers with varying renal function (24-hour creatinine clearance: 9 to 116 mL/min), no effect of renal function on the pharmacokinetics of single doses of 2.5 mg of letrozole was found. In addition, in a study of 347 patients with advanced breast cancer, about half of whom received 2.5 mg letrozole and half 0.5 mg letrozole, renal impairment (calculated creatinine clearance: 20 to 50 mL/min) did not affect steady-state plasma letrozole concentrations.
Hepatic Impairment
In a study of subjects with mild to moderate non-metastatic hepatic dysfunction (e.g., cirrhosis, Child-Pugh classification A and B), the mean AUC values of the volunteers with moderate hepatic impairment were 37% higher than in normal subjects, but still within the range seen in subjects without impaired function.

In a pharmacokinetic study, subjects with liver cirrhosis and severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh classification C, which included bilirubins about 2 to 11 times ULN with minimal to severe ascites) had 2-fold increase in exposure (AUC) and 47% reduction in systemic clearance. Breast cancer patients with severe hepatic impairment are thus expected to be exposed to higher levels of letrozole than patients with normal liver function receiving similar doses of this drug [see Dosage and Administration (2.5)].

13 Nonclinical Toxicology


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13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility


A conventional carcinogenesis study in mice at doses of 0.6 to 60 mg/kg/day (about 1 to 100 times the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis) administered by oral gavage for up to 2 years revealed a dose related increase in the incidence of benign ovarian stromal tumors. The incidence of combined hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma showed a significant trend in females when the high dose group was excluded due to low survival. In a separate study, plasma AUC0-12hr levels in mice at 60 mg/kg/day were 55 times higher than the AUC0-24hr level in breast cancer patients at the recommended dose. The carcinogenicity study in rats at oral doses of 0.1 to 10 mg/kg/day (about 0.4 to 40 times the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis) for up to 2 years also produced an increase in the incidence of benign ovarian stromal tumors at 10 mg/kg/day. Ovarian hyperplasia was observed in females at doses equal to or greater than 0.1 mg/kg/day. At 10 mg/kg/day, plasma AUC0-24hr levels in rats were 80 times higher than the level in breast cancer patients at the recommended dose.

Letrozole was not mutagenic in in vitro tests (Ames and E.coli bacterial tests) but was observed to be a potential clastogen in in vitro assays (CHO K1 and CCL 61 Chinese hamster ovary cells). Letrozole was not clastogenic in vivo (micronucleus test in rats).

Studies to investigate the effect of letrozole on fertility have not been conducted; however, repeated dosing caused sexual inactivity in females and atrophy of the reproductive tract in males and females at doses of 0.6, 0.1 and 0.03 mg/kg in mice, rats and dogs, respectively (about one, 0.4 and 0.4 the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis, respectively).

  Letrozole administered to young (postnatal day 7) rats for 12 weeks duration at 0.003, 0.03, 0.3 mg/kg/day by oral gavage, resulted in adverse skeletal/growth effects (bone maturation, bone mineral density) and neuroendocrine and reproductive developmental perturbations of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis at exposures less than exposure anticipated at the clinical dose of 2.5 mg/day. Decreased fertility was accompanied by hypertrophy of the hypophysis and testicular changes that included degeneration of the seminiferous tubular epithelium and atrophy of the female reproductive tract. Young rats in this study were allowed to recover following discontinuation of letrozole treatment for 42 days. Histopathological changes were not reversible at clinically relevant exposures.

13.2 Animal Toxicology and/or Pharmacology

Reproductive Toxicology
Reproduction studies in rats at letrozole doses equal to or greater than 0.003 mg/kg (about 1/100 the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis) administered during the period of organogenesis, have shown that letrozole is embryotoxic and fetotoxic, as indicated by intrauterine mortality, increased resorption, increased postimplantation loss, decreased numbers of live fetuses and fetal anomalies including absence and shortening of renal papilla, dilation of ureter, edema and incomplete ossification of frontal skull and metatarsals. Letrozole was teratogenic in rats. A 0.03 mg/kg dose (about 1/10 the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis) caused fetal domed head and cervical/centrum vertebral fusion.

Letrozole is embryotoxic at doses equal to or greater than 0.002 mg/kg and fetotoxic when administered to rabbits at 0.02 mg/kg (about 1/100,000 and 1/10,000 the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis, respectively). Fetal anomalies included incomplete ossification of the skull, sternebrae and fore- and hind legs.

14 Clinical Studies


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14.1 Updated Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer


In a multicenter study enrolling over 8,000 postmenopausal women with resected, receptor-positive early breast cancer, one of the following treatments was randomized in a double-blind manner:

Option 1:     A.     Tamoxifen for 5 years     B.     Letrozole for 5 years     C.     Tamoxifen for 2 years followed by letrozole for 3 years     D.     Letrozole for 2 years followed by tamoxifen for 3 years

Option 2:     A.     Tamoxifen for 5 years    B.     Letrozole for 5 years

The study in the adjuvant setting, BIG 1-98 was designed to answer two primary questions: whether letrozole for 5 years was superior to tamoxifen for 5 years (Primary Core Analysis) and whether switching endocrine treatments at 2 years was superior to continuing the same agent for a total of 5 years (Sequential Treatments Analysis). Selected baseline characteristics for the study population are shown in Table 5. The primary endpoint of this trial was disease-free survival (DFS) (i.e., interval between randomization and earliest occurrence of a local, regional, or distant recurrence, or invasive contralateral breast cancer, or death from any cause). The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), systemic disease-free survival (SDFS), invasive contralateral breast cancer, time to breast cancer recurrence (TBR) and time to distant metastasis (TDM).

The Primary Core Analysis (PCA) included all patients and all follow-up in the monotherapy arms in both randomization options, but follow-up in the two sequential treatments arms was truncated 30 days after switching treatments. The PCA was conducted at a median treatment duration of 24 months and a median follow-up of 26 months. Letrozole was superior to tamoxifen in all endpoints except overall survival and contralateral breast cancer [e.g., DFS: hazard ratio, HR 0.79; 95% CI (0.68, 0.92); P = 0.002; SDFS: HR 0.83; 95% CI (0.70, 0.97); TDM: HR 0.73; 95% CI (0.60, 0.88); OS: HR 0.86; 95% CI (0.70, 1.06).

In 2005, based on recommendations by the independent Data Monitoring Committee, the tamoxifen arms were unblinded and patients were allowed to complete initial adjuvant therapy with letrozole (if they had received tamoxifen for at least 2 years) or to start extended adjuvant treatment with letrozole (if they had received tamoxifen for at least 4.5 years) if they remained alive and disease-free. In total, 632 patients crossed to letrozole or another aromatase inhibitor. Approximately 70% (448) of these 632 patients crossed to letrozole to complete initial adjuvant therapy and most of these crossed in years 3 to 4. All of these patients were in Option 1. A total of 184 patients started extended adjuvant therapy with letrozole (172 patients) or with another aromatase inhibitor (12 patients). To explore the impact of this selective crossover, results from analyses censoring follow-up at the date of the selective crossover (in the tamoxifen arm) are presented for the Monotherapy Arms Analysis (MAA).

The PCA allowed the results of letrozole for 5 years compared with tamoxifen for 5 years to be reported in 2005 after a median follow-up of only 26 months. The design of the PCA is not optimal to evaluate the effect of letrozole after a longer time (because follow-up was truncated in two arms at around 25 months). The Monotherapy Arms Analysis (ignoring the two sequential treatment arms) provided follow-up equally as long in each treatment and did not over-emphasize early recurrences as the PCA did. The MAA thus provides the clinically appropriate updated efficacy results in answer to the first primary question, despite the confounding of the tamoxifen reference arm by the selective crossover to letrozole. The updated results for the MAA are summarized in Table 6. Median follow-up for this analysis is 73 months.

The Sequential Treatments Analysis (STA) addresses the second primary question of the study. The primary analysis for the Sequential Treatments Analysis (STA) was from switch (or equivalent time-point in monotherapy arms) + 30 days (STA-S) with a two-sided test applied to each pair-wise comparison at the 2.5% level. Additional analyses were conducted from randomization (STA-R) but these comparisons (added in light of changing medical practice) were under-powered for efficacy.
Table 5: Adjuvant Study - Patient and Disease Characteristics (ITT Population)

Primary Core Analysis
(PCA)
Monotherapy Arms Analysis
(MAA)
Characteristic
Letrozole

N = 4,003
n (%)
Tamoxifen

N = 4,007
n (%)
Letrozole

N = 2,463
n (%)
Tamoxifen

N = 2,459
n (%)
Age (median, years) 61 61 61 61
Age range (years) 38 to 89 39 to 90 38 to 88 39 to 90
Hormone receptor status (%)
     ER+ and/or PgR+ 99.7 99.7 99.7 99.7
     Both unknown 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
Nodal status (%)
     Node negative 52 52 50 52
     Node positive 41 41 43 41
     Nodal status unknown 7 7 7 7
Prior adjuvant chemotherapy (%) 24 24 24 24
Table 6: Updated Adjuvant Study Results - Monotherapy Arms Analysis (Median Follow-up 73 Months)

Letrozole
N = 2,463
Tamoxifen
N = 2,459 		Hazard Ratio

Events
(%) 		5-year rate
Events
(%) 		5-year rate (95%CI) P
Disease-free survival* ITT 445 (18.1) 87.4 500 (20.3) 84.7 0.87 (0.76, 0.99) 0.03
Censor 445 87.4 483 84.2 0.84 (0.73, 0.95)
     0 positive nodes ITT 165 92.2 189 90.3 0.88 (0.72, 1.09)
     1 to 3 positive nodes ITT 151 85.6 163 83 0.85 (0.68, 1.06)
     > = 4 positive nodes ITT 123 71.2 142 62.6 0.81 (0.64, 1.03)
     Adjuvant chemotherapy ITT 119 86.4 150 80.6 0.77 (0.60, 0.98)
     No chemotherapy ITT 326 87.8 350 86.1 0.91 (0.78, 1.06)
Systemic DFS† ITT 401 88.5 446 86.6 0.88 (0.77,1.01)
Time to distant metastasis‡ ITT 257 92.4 298 90.1 0.85 (0.72, 1.00)
     Adjuvant chemotherapy ITT 84 - 109 - 0.75 (0.56-1.00)
     No chemotherapy ITT 173 - 189 - 0.90 (0.73,1.11)
Distant DFS§ ITT 385 89 432 87.1 0.87 (0.76,1.00)
Contralateral breast cancer ITT 34 99.2 44 98.6 0.76 (0.49, 1.19)
Overall survival ITT 303 91.8 343 90.9 0.87 (0.75, 1.02)
Censor 303 91.8 338 90.1 0.82 (0.70, 0.96)
     0 positive nodes ITT 107 95.2 121 94.8 0.90 (0.69.1.16)
     1 to 3 positive nodes ITT 99 90.8 114 90.6 0.81(0.62,1.06)
     > = 4 positive nodes ITT 92 80.2 104 73.6 0.86 (0.65, 1.14)
     Adjuvant chemotherapy ITT 76 91.5 96 88.4 0.79 (0.58, 1.06)
     No chemotherapy ITT 227 91.9 247 91.8 0.91 (0.76, 1.08)

ITT analysis ignores selective crossover in tamoxifen arms. Censored analysis censors follow-up at the date of selective crossover in 632 patients who crossed to letrozole or another aromatase inhibitor after the tamoxifen arms were unblinded in 2005.
*Disease-free survival: Interval from randomization to earliest event of invasive loco-regional recurrence, distant metastasis, invasive contralateral breast cancer or death without a prior event. †Systemic disease-free survival: Interval from randomization to invasive regional recurrence, distant metastasis or death without a prior cancer event.‡Time to distant metastasis: Interval from randomization to distant metastasis.§Distant disease-free survival: Interval from randomization to earlier event of relapse in a distant site or death from any cause.
Figure 1 shows the Kaplan-Meier curves for Disease-Free Survival Monotherapy Analysis.



Figure 1: Disease-Free Survival (Median follow-up 73 months, ITT Approach)

The medians of overall survival for both arms were not reached for the Monotherapy Arms Analysis (MAA). There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival. The hazard ratio for survival in the letrozole arm compared to the tamoxifen arm was 0.87, with 95% CI (0.75, 1.02) (see Table 6).

There were no significant differences in DFS, OS, SDFS and Distant DFS from switch in the Sequential Treatments Analysis with respect to either monotherapy (e.g., [Tamoxifen 2 years followed by] letrozole 3 years vs. tamoxifen beyond 2 years, DFS HR 0.89; 97.5% CI 0.68, 1.15 and [letrozole 2 years followed by] tamoxifen 3 years vs. letrozole beyond 2 years, DFS HR 0.93; 97.5% CI 0.71, 1.22). There were no significant differences in DFS, OS, SDFS and Distant DFS from randomization in the Sequential Treatments Analyses.

14.2 Extended Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer, Median Treatment Duration of 24 Months


A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of letrozole was performed in over 5,100 postmenopausal women with receptor-positive or unknown primary breast cancer who were disease free after 5 years of adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen.

The planned duration of treatment for patients in the study was 5 years, but the trial was terminated early because of an interim analysis showing a favorable letrozole effect on time without recurrence or contralateral breast cancer. At the time of unblinding, women had been followed for a median of 28 months, 30% of patients had completed 3 or more years of follow-up and less than 1% of patients had completed 5 years of follow-up.

Selected baseline characteristics for the study population are shown in Table 7.
Table 7: Selected Study Population Demographics (Modified ITT Population)
Baseline Status
Letrozole
N = 2,582
Placebo
N = 2,586

Hormone Receptor Status
(%)
     ER+ and/or PgR+ 98 98
     Both Unknown 2 2
Nodal Status (%)
     Node Negative 50 50
     Node Positive 46 46
     Nodal Status Unknown 4 4
Chemotherapy 46 46

 

Table 8 shows the study results. Disease-free survival was measured as the time from randomization to the earliest event of loco-regional or distant recurrence of the primary disease or development of contralateral breast cancer or death. DFS by hormone receptor status, nodal status and adjuvant chemotherapy were similar to the overall results. Data were premature for an analysis of survival.
Table 8: Extended Adjuvant Study Results

Letrozole
N = 2,582
Placebo
N = 2,586 		Hazard Ratio (95% CI) P-Value
Disease Free Survival (DFS)* Events 122 (4.7%) 193 (7.5%) 0.62 (0.49, 0.78)† 0.00003
     Local Breast Recurrence 9 22
     Local Chest Wall Recurrence 2 8
     Regional Recurrence 7 4
     Distant Recurrence 55 92 0.61 (0.44 to 0.84) 0.003
     Contralateral Breast Cancer 19 29
     Deaths Without Recurrence or Contralateral Breast Cancer 30 38
CI = confidence interval for hazard ratio. Hazard ratio of less than 1.0 indicates difference in favor of letrozole (lesser risk of recurrence); hazard ratio greater than 1.0 indicates difference in favor of placebo (higher risk of recurrence with letrozole). P-value based on stratified logrank test. *First event of loco-regional recurrence, distant relapse, contralateral breast cancer or death from any cause.†Analysis stratified by receptor status, nodal status and prior adjuvant chemotherapy (stratification factors as at randomization).

14.3 Updated Analyses of Extended Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer, Median Treatment Duration of 60 Months

Table 9: Update of Extended Adjuvant Study Results

Letrozole

N = 2,582
(%)
Placebo

N = 2,586
(%) 		Hazard Ratio* (95% CI) P-Value†
Disease Free Survival (DFS) events‡ 344 (13.3) 402 (15.5) 0.89 (0.77, 1.03) 0.12

Breast cancer recurrence
(Protocol definition of DFS events§)		 209 286 0.75 (0.63, 0.89) 0.001
     Local Breast Recurrence 15 44
     Local Chest Wall Recurrence 6 14
     Regional Recurrence 10 8
     Distant Recurrence 140 167
     Distant recurrence (first or subsequent events) 142 169 0.88 (0.70,1.10) 0.246
     Contralateral Breast Cancer 37 53
     Deaths Without Recurrence or Contralateral Breast Cancer 135 116
*Adjusted by receptor status, nodal status and prior chemotherapy.†Stratified logrank test, stratified by receptor status, nodal status and prior chemotherapy.‡DFS events defined as earliest of loco-regional recurrence, distant metastasis, contralateral breast cancer or death from any cause, and ignoring switches to letrozole in 60% of the placebo arm.§Protocol definition does not include deaths from any cause.
Updated analyses were conducted at a median follow-up of 62 months. In the letrozole arm, 71% of the patients were treated for a least 3 years and 58% of patients completed at least 4.5 years of extended adjuvant treatment. After the unblinding of the study at a median follow-up of 28 months, approximately 60% of the selected patients in the placebo arm opted to switch to letrozole.

In this updated analysis shown in Table 9, letrozole significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence or contralateral breast cancer compared with placebo (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.63, 0.89; P = 0.001). However, in the updated DFS analysis (interval between randomization and earliest event of loco-regional recurrence, distant metastasis, contralateral breast cancer or death from any cause) the treatment difference was heavily diluted by 60% of the patients in the placebo arm switching to letrozole and accounting for 64% of the total placebo patient- years of follow-up. Ignoring these switches, the risk of DFS event was reduced by a non-significant 11% (HR 0.89; 95% CI 0.77, 1.03). There was no significant difference in distant disease-free survival or overall survival.

14.4 First-Line Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer


A randomized, double-blind, multinational trial compared letrozole 2.5 mg with tamoxifen 20 mg in 916 postmenopausal patients with locally advanced (Stage IIIB or loco-regional recurrence not amenable to treatment with surgery or radiation) or metastatic breast cancer. Time to progression (TTP) was the primary endpoint of the trial. Selected baseline characteristics for this study are shown in Table 10.
Table 10: Selected Study Population Demographics
Baseline Status
Letrozole
N = 458
Tamoxifen
N = 458
Stage of Disease
     IIIB 6% 7%
     IV 93% 92%
Receptor Status
     ER and PgR Positive 38% 41%
     ER or PgR Positive 26% 26%
     Both Unknown 34% 33%
     ER– or PgR–/Other Unknown < 1% 0
Previous Antiestrogen Therapy
     Adjuvant 19% 18%
     None 81% 82%
Dominant Site of Disease
     Soft Tissue 25% 25%
     Bone 32% 29%
     Viscera 43% 46%

 Letrozole was superior to tamoxifen in TTP and rate of objective tumor response (see Table 11).

Table 11 summarizes the results of the trial, with a total median follow-up of approximately 32 months. (All analyses are unadjusted and use 2-sided P-values.)
Table 11: Results of First-Line Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer

Letrozole

2.5 mg
N = 453
Tamoxifen

20 mg
N = 454
Hazard or Odds

Ratio (95% CI)
P-Value (2-Sided)
Median Time to Progression 9.4 months 6 months 0.72 (0.62, 0.83)*
P < 0.0001
Objective Response Rate
     (CR + PR) 145 (32%) 95 (21%) 1.77 (1.31, 2.39)†
P = 0.0002
     (CR) 42 (9%) 15 (3%) 2.99 (1.63, 5.47)†
P = 0.0004
Duration of Objective Response
    Median 18 months 16 months
(N = 145) (N = 95)
Overall Survival 35 months 32 months
(N = 458) (N = 458) P = 0.5136‡
*Hazard ratio †Odds ratio ‡Overall logrank test Figure 2 shows the Kaplan-Meier curves for TTP.
Figure 2: Kaplan-Meier Estimates of Time to Progression (Tamoxifen Study)

Table12 shows results in the subgroup of women who had received prior antiestrogen adjuvant therapy, Table 13, results by disease site and Table 14, the results by receptor status.
Table 12: Efficacy in Patients Who Received Prior Antiestrogen Therapy
Variable Letrozole Tamoxifen
2.5 mg 20 mg
N = 84 N = 83
Median Time to Progression (95% CI) 8.9 months (6.2, 12.5) 5.9 months (3.2, 6.2)
     Hazard Ratio for TTP (95% CI) 0.60 (0.43, 0.84)
Objective Response Rate
     (CR + PR) 22 (26%) 7 (8%)
     Odds Ratio for Response (95% CI) 3.85 (1.50, 9.60)

 Hazard ratio less than 1 or odds ratio greater than 1 favors letrozole; hazard ratio greater than 1 or odds ratio less than 1 favors tamoxifen.
Table 13: Efficacy by Disease Site
Letrozole Tamoxifen
2.5 mg 20 mg

Dominant Disease Site
Soft Tissue: 		N = 113 N = 115
     Median TTP 12.1 months 6.4 months
     Objective Response Rate 50% 34%
Bone: N = 145 N = 131
     Median TTP 9.5 months 6.3 months
     Objective Response Rate 23% 15%
Viscera: N = 195 N = 208
     Median TTP 8.3 months 4.6 months
     Objective Response Rate 28% 17%
Table 14: Efficacy by Receptor Status
Variable Letrozole Tamoxifen
2.5 mg 20 mg
Receptor Positive N = 294 N = 305
     Median Time to Progression (95% CI) 9.4 months (8.9, 11.8) 6 months (5.1, 8.5)
     Hazard Ratio for TTP (95% CI) 0.69 (0.58, 0.83)
     Objective Response Rate (CR + PR) 97 (33%) 66 (22%)
     Odds Ratio for Response (95% CI) 1.78 (1.20, 2.60)
Receptor Unknown N = 159 N = 149
     Median Time to Progression (95% CI) 9.2 months (6.1, 12.3) 6 months (4.1, 6.4)
     Hazard Ratio for TTP (95% CI) 0.77 (0.60, 0.99)
     Objective Response Rate (CR + PR) 48 (30%) 29 (20%)
     Odds Ratio for Response (95% CI) 1.79 (1.10, 3.00)

Hazard ratio less than 1 or odds ratio greater than 1 favors letrozole; hazard ratio greater than 1 or odds ratio less than 1 favors tamoxifen.



Figure 3 shows the Kaplan-Meier curves for survival.



Figure 3: Survival by Randomized Treatment Arm

Legend: Randomized letrozole: n = 458, events 57%, median overall survival 35 months (95% CI 32 to 38 months)

Randomized tamoxifen: n = 458, events 57%, median overall survival 32 months (95% CI 28 to 37 months)

Overall logrank P=0.5136 (i.e., there was no significant difference between treatment arms in overall survival).

The median overall survival was 35 months for the letrozole group and 32 months for the tamoxifen group, with a P-value 0.5136. Study design allowed patients to cross over upon progression to the other therapy. Approximately 50% of patients crossed over to the opposite treatment arm and almost all patients who crossed over had done so by 36 months. The median time to crossover was 17 months (letrozole to tamoxifen) and 13 months (tamoxifen to letrozole). In patients who did not cross over to the opposite treatment arm, median survival was 35 months with letrozole (n = 219, 95% Cl 29 to 43 months) vs. 20 months with tamoxifen (n = 229, 95% Cl 16 to 26 months).

14.5 Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer


Letrozole was initially studied at doses of 0.1 mg to 5.0 mg daily in six non-comparative Phase I/II trials in 181 postmenopausal estrogen/progesterone receptor positive or unknown advanced breast cancer patients previously treated with at least antiestrogen therapy. Patients had received other hormonal therapies and also may have received cytotoxic therapy. Eight (20%) of 40 patients treated with letrozole 2.5 mg daily in Phase I/II trials achieved an objective tumor response (complete or partial response).

Two large randomized, controlled, multinational (predominantly European) trials were conducted in patients with advanced breast cancer who had progressed despite antiestrogen therapy. Patients were randomized to letrozole 0.5 mg daily, letrozole 2.5 mg daily, or a comparator (megestrol acetate 160 mg daily in one study; and aminoglutethimide 250 mg b.i.d. with corticosteroid supplementation in the other study). In each study over 60% of the patients had received therapeutic antiestrogens, and about one-fifth of these patients had had an objective response. The megestrol acetate controlled study was double-blind; the other study was open label. Selected baseline characteristics for each study are shown in Table 15.
Table 15: Selected Study Population Demographics
Parameter
Megestrol Acetate
Study
Aminoglutethimide
Study
No. of Participants 552 557
Receptor Status
     ER/PR Positive 57% 56%
     ER/PR Unknown 43% 44%
Previous Therapy
     Adjuvant Only 33% 38%
     Therapeutic +/- Adj. 66% 62%
Sites of Disease
     Soft Tissue 56% 50%
     Bone 50% 55%
     Viscera 40% 44%

 

Confirmed objective tumor response (complete response plus partial response) was the primary endpoint of the trials. Responses were measured according to the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) criteria and verified by independent, blinded review. All responses were confirmed by a second evaluation 4 to 12 weeks after the documentation of the initial response.

Table 16 shows the results for the first trial, with a minimum follow-up of 15 months, that compared letrozole 0.5 mg, letrozole 2.5 mg, and megestrol acetate 160 mg daily. (All analyses are unadjusted.)
Table 16: Megestrol Acetate Study Results

Letrozole

0.5 mg
N = 188
Letrozole

2.5 mg
N = 174
Megestrol

Acetate
N = 190
Objective Response (CR + PR) 22 (11.7%) 41 (23.6%) 31 (16.3%)
Median Duration of Response 552 days (Not reached) 561 days
Median Time to Progression 154 days 170 days 168 days
Median Survival 633 days 730 days 659 days
Odds Ratio for Response letrozole 2.5: letrozole 0.5 = 2.33 letrozole 2.5: megestrol = 1.58
(95% CI: 1.32, 4.17); P = 0.004* (95% CI: 0.94, 2.66); P = 0.08*
Relative Risk of Progression letrozole 2.5: letrozole 0.5 = 0.81 letrozole 2.5: megestrol = 0.77
(95% CI: 0.63, 1.03); P = 0.09* (95% CI: 0.60, 0.98), P = 0.03*
*two-sided P-value
The Kaplan-Meier curves for progression for the megestrol acetate study are shown in Figure 4.



Figure 4: Kaplan-Meier Estimates of Time to Progression (Megestrol Acetate Study)

The results for the study comparing letrozole to aminoglutethimide, with a minimum follow-up of 9 months, are shown in Table 17. (Unadjusted analyses are used.)
Table 17: Aminoglutethimide Study Results

Letrozole

0.5 mg
N = 193
Letrozole

2.5 mg
N = 185
Aminoglutethimide
N = 179
Objective Response (CR + PR) 34 (17.6%) 34 (18.4%) 22 (12.3%)
Median Duration of Response 619 days 706 days 450 days
Median Time to Progression 103 days 123 days 112 days
Median Survival 636 days 792 days 592 days
Odds Ratio for Response letrozole 2.5: letrozole 2.5:
letrozole 0.5 = 1.05 aminoglutethimide = 1.61

(95% CI: 0.62, 1.79);
P = 0.85*
(95% CI: 0.90, 2.87);
P = 0.11*
Relative Risk of Progression letrozole 2.5: letrozole 2.5:
letrozole 0.5 = 0.86 aminoglutethimide = 0.74

(95% CI: 0.68, 1.11);
P = 0.25*
(95% CI: 0.57, 0.94),
P = 0.02*
*two-sided P-valueThe Kaplan-Meier curves for progression for the aminoglutethimide study is shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Kaplan-Meier Estimates of Time to Progression (Aminoglutethimide Study)

16 How Supplied/storage And Handling


Letrozole Tablets, USP are available containing 2.5 mg of letrozole, USP.

The 2.5 mg tablets are pink film-coated, round tablets debossed with M on one side of the tablet and L71 on the other side. They are available as follows:
Bottles of 30 NDC 54868-6252-0

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature.]

Dispense in a tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP using a child-resistant closure.

17 Patient Counseling Information


Information for Patients

Pregnancy

Letrozole tablets are contraindicated in women of premenopausal endocrine status. The physician needs to discuss the necessity of adequate contraception with women who have the potential to become pregnant including women who are perimenopausal or who recently became postmenopausal, until their postmenopausal status is fully established.

Fatigue and Dizziness

Since fatigue and dizziness have been observed with the use of letrozole and somnolence was uncommonly reported, caution is advised when driving or using machinery.

Bone Effects

Consideration should be given to monitoring bone mineral density.



Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.Morgantown, WV 26505 U.S.A.

REVISED DECEMBER 2010LETR:R2



Relabeling of "Additional" label by: Physicians Total Care, Inc.Tulsa, OK        74146

Principal Display Panel


Letrozole Tablets, USP 2.5 mg

Rx only

Each film-coated tabletcontains:Letrozole, USP 2.5 mg



Dispense in a tight, light-resistantcontainer as defined in the USPusing a child-resistant closure.

Keep container tightly closed.

Keep this and all medication out of the reach of children.

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F ). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature.]

Usual Dosage: See accompanyingprescribing information.

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