Britain's National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recently green lighted new drugs to prevent and cut relapsing symptoms of breast cancer after surgery. The new drugs are called aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and were found more efficient against this type of cancer than previously widely used tamoxifen medication.

"Subject to any appeal by consultees, the final appraisal may be used as the basis for the institute's guidance on the use of the appraised technology in the NHS in England and Wales," NICE appraisal committee informed.

Aromatase inhibitors focus on blocking the oestrogen hormone which is responsible for the growth of malignant breast tumors and also for the relapse of breast cancer symptoms. NICE has approved of three aromatase inhibitors to be used by post-menopausal women: anastrozole, exemestane and letrozol.

Jeffrey Tobias, professor of Cancer Medicine at the London's University College said: "This milestone brings us close to ending the postcode lottery for AIs, such as anastrozole, which has been shown to significantly improve women's chances of surviving early breast cancer over and above the benefit seen with tamoxifen. This recommendation brings the UK in line with some other European countries, where AIs have now become the new gold standard treatment for early breast cancer."

In a trial conducted on women who had just received breast cancer surgery, anastrozole was found to be 26% more efficient against cancer recurring symptoms than tamoxifen. If tamoxifen usually cut symptoms in 50% of women receiving surgical interventions for breast cancer, anastrozole inhibitor proved to reduce extra 26% cases of recurrent cancer, on top of the 50% already guaranteed by tamoxifen. Women treated with letrozole were also found to be more likely to be free of recurring cancer symptoms than those treated with tamoxifen.

"Breakthrough is delighted that NICE has issued its final recommendation approving aromatase inhibitors for use in post-menopausal women with oestrogen sensitive early breast cancer. New treatment options like these are an important addition to the armory of therapies available to treat women with the disease, making a real difference in increasing disease-free survival," commented Dr Sarah Rawlings from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer.