Letrozole (Molecule of the Month for January 2006)
Femara
Letrozole (brand name Femera) is used as an anti-cancer drug. Letrozole was as a drug cut the risk of a recurrence of cancer in postmenopausal women who are within three months of completion of five years of tamoxifen therapy. The benefits of Letrozole in the clinical trial are based on 24 months of treatment. Among all women taking Letrozole there was a 27% reduction in the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the body compared to those taking tamoxifen, and a 19% drop in the risk of breast cancer returning.
Femara is a type of drug called an aromatase inhibitor which stops the natural production of oestrogen - the hormone that is responsible for the growth and recurrence of many breast cancers.
Formal Chemical Name (IUPAC)
4,4'-((1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methylene)dibenzonitrile
References
click on the picture of Letrozole above to interact
with the 3D model of the
Letrozole structure
(this will open a new browser window)
C17H11N5
Update by Karl Harrison
(Molecule of the Month for
January 2006
)
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