A comparison of letrozole and anastrozole followed by letrozole in breast cancer patients

Figures & data

Figure 1 Kaplan–Meier survival curve of the LTZ and the A-LTZ groups of patients (all stages).

Abbreviations: A-LTZ, anastrozole followed by letrozole; LTZ, letrozole.

Figure 2 Kaplan–Meier survival curve of stage 4 LTZ and A-LTZ patients.

Abbreviations: A-LTZ, anastrozole followed by letrozole; LTZ, letrozole.

Table 1 Comparison of demographic data between the LTZ and the A-LTZ groups of patients

Category	LTZ (n=179)	A-LTZ (n=180)
Mean age (years)	53.7±9.7	54.2±10.2
Clinical staging
• Stage 1	21 (11.73%)	4 (2.22%)
• Stage 2	86 (48.04%)	116 (64.44%)
• Stage 3	55 (30.73%)	46 (25.55%)
• Stage 4	17 (9.50%)	14 (7.77%)
Type of reimbursement
• CSMBS	89 (49.72%)	83 (46.11%)
• Non-CSMBS	90 (50.28%)	97 (53.89%)
Endocrine treatment strategy
• AI only	114 (63.69%)	97 (53.89%)
◦ Stage 1	18 (15.79%)	2 (2.06%)
◦ Stage 2	60 (52.63%)	59 (60.82%)
◦ Stage 3	32 (28.07%)	29 (29.90%)
◦ Stage 4	4 (3.51%)	7 (7.22%)
• AI + tamoxifen	65 (36.31%)	83 (46.11%)
◦ Stage 1	3 (4.62%)	2 (2.41%)
◦ Stage 2	26 (40.00%)	57 (68.67%)
◦ Stage 3	23 (35.38%)	17 (20.48%)
◦ Stage 4	13 (20.00%)	7 (8.43%)
Anastrozole duration (mean ± SD, months)
All		18.7±14.6
• Stage 1		24.2±18.6
• Stage 2		19.9±15.7
• Stage 3		18.4±14.4
• Stage 4		8.7±4.8

Abbrevations: AI, aromatase inhibitor; A-LTZ, anastrozole followed by letrozole; CSMBS, Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (for government officers); LTZ, letrozole; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Survival analysis between the LTZ and the A-LTZ groups of patients

Stage	Hazard ratio (95% confidence interval)	P-value
All	0.6824 (0.4741–0.9823)	0.0386*
1	–	0.3783
2	0.5885 (0.3226–1.0738)	0.0805
3	1.0618 (0.6063–1.8598)	0.8337
4	0.3083 (0.1180–0.8053)	0.0114*

Note:

* Statistical significance.

Abbreviations: A-LTZ, anastrozole followed by letrozole; LTZ, letrozole.