Pilot Study Estradiol Followed by Exemestane Hormone Receptor + Metastatic Breast Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Estrogen can cause the growth of tumor cells. Hormone therapy using therapeutic
estradiol may fight breast cancer by lowering the amount of estrogen the body makes. Though
estradiol initially produces stimulation of ER+ cancer cells, both laboratory and some
clinical experience indicate that it may have the opposite effect on such cells, once they
have become resistant to estrogen deprivation. In laboratory models, there is death of the
"resistant" population after estradiol treatment, followed by restoration of sensitivity of
the remaining cells to estrogen deprivation, as with an aromatase inhibitor. Exemestane may
stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving
therapeutic estradiol together with exemestane may kill more tumor cells.
PURPOSE: This clinical trial studies therapeutic estradiol and exemestane in treating
post-menopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer