New Results From one of the World's Largest Bre...

LONDON, December 14 /PRNewswire/ --

    - The Benefits of Anastrozole (Arimidex(R)) Over Tamoxifen at Preventing 
Breast Cancer Recurrence Improve Over Time - Up to Four Years After Treatment 
Ends



    New data from ATAC(x), one of the world's largest and longest-running 
studies in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive (HR+), early 
breast cancer, reinforce that anastrozole can help many more women live 
cancer-free, for longer. The new data show that post-menopausal HR+ women 
continue to benefit from anastrozole, even up to four years after treatment 
ends.(1), (2) If breast cancer returns, women are much more likely to die - 
therefore, preventing breast cancer recurrence is fundamental to saving 
lives.



    "Currently in the UK many post-menopausal women with hormone-sensitive
early breast cancer still receive adjuvant tamoxifen for their treatment. The
ATAC 100-month data confirms the superiority of anastrozole over tamoxifen
irrespective of their recurrence risk, and is set to improve the treatment
outcomes of many women in the United Kingdom," commented Professor Anthony
Howell, Christie Hospital, UK.



    The landmark results - presented today at the prestigious annual San
Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in the USA and also published online
in The Lancet Oncology - also show that even up to four years after a woman's
treatment ends, the protective effect of anastrozole in reducing the risk of
her cancer from returning continues to improve compared to tamoxifen.
Overall, women in the ATAC trial taking anastrozole were 24% less likely to
have their cancer come back, compared with those taking tamoxifen.(1),(2)



    This means that for every 100 women treated with tamoxifen whose cancer
returned, 24 of these women would have not recurred if they had been on
anastrozole.



    This trial data demonstrates the long-term impact of treatment decisions
made at diagnosis and confirms the importance of starting treatment with
anastrozole to help more women beat this devastating disease.



    "The greatest fear for women who have been treated for early breast
cancer is to have their cancer return, which ultimately means their disease
is incurable. However, these new data show that with anastrozole, women have
the best possible chance yet to live cancer-free - even after their treatment
has finished," said Professor Lesley Fallowfield, Director, Cancer Research
UK Psychosocial Oncology Group, University of Sussex, UK.



    Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with more than 44,000
women diagnosed each year.(3) Four in five new cases are diagnosed in women
aged 50 and over (postmenopausal).(4)



For more information, please visit http://www.ATAC100.com

Notes to Editors

    The study will be published early online (00.01GMT Saturday 15 December)
and in the January edition of The Lancet Oncology



Trust and Confidence in Arimidex

    A recent global survey showed that 41% of UK physicians believe that
telling a patient her breast cancer has come back is the worst
aspect of their job.(5) Recurrence, in the same breast, in the
opposite breast or at a distant tumour site means that the cancer is
more likely to be incurable and the patient is at risk of a poor
outcome. It is therefore essential for both patients and their
physicians(xx) to know they are on the best therapy to prevent the
disease returning.
 


    The impact of treatment on quality of life is also an important
consideration in early breast cancer, and data has shown that the
clinical benefits of anastrozole are achieved without adversely affecting 
the quality of patients' lives.(6)



(x)ATAC: Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination

    (xx)Physicians: medical oncologists, gynaecologists and breast cancer
surgeons



    Patients: postmenopausal women diagnosed with early breast cancer in
the past five years and who had undergone breast cancer surgery
ATAC 100-month results summary:
 


    - After a median follow-up of over 8 years (100 months), compared
with tamoxifen, anastrozole significantly:(1)
 


    - reduces the risk of all recurrences by 24% (HR 0.76 (0.67-0.87);   
p=0.0001)
 


- improves disease free survival by 15% (HR 0.85 (0.76-0.94); p=0.003)

    - reduces the risk of distant metastases (recurrence elsewhere in 
the body) by 16% (HR 0.84 (0.72-0.97); p=0.022)
 


    - reduces the incidence of contralateral breast cancer (cancer in
the opposite breast) by 40% (OR 0.60 (0.42-0.85); p=0.004)
 


    - Prescribing anastrozole from the start means fewer patients have
to be told the devastating news that their breast cancer has
recurred.(1)



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'More Positive Conversations' global survey

    The 'More Positive Conversations' survey was conducted online and via
telephone interviews by Harris Interactive on behalf of AstraZeneca. The
survey involved 1,062 physicians and patients from France, Germany, Italy,
the United Kingdom and the US.



AstraZeneca

    AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription
pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the
world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $26.47
billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular,
neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is
listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4
Good Index.



    Arimidex (anastrozole) is a trademark, the property of the AstraZeneca
group of companies.



References

---------------------------------

    (1) The ATAC Trialist Group-Effect of anastrozole and tamoxifen as
adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer, 100 month analysis of the
ATAC trial-published online, Lancet Oncology Saturday 15 December



    (2) Forbes J, on behalf on the ATAC Trialist's Group. ATAC: 100 month
median follow-up shows continued superior efficacy and no excess fracture
risk for anastrozole compared with tamoxifen after treatment completion.
Abstract no 41. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2007.



    (3) Cancer Research UK: Breast Cancer Key Statistics:
http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/breast/



    (4) Cancer Research UK Breast Cancer Incidence Statistics
http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/breast/incidence/



    (5) Data on file, `More Positive Conversations' global survey, conducted
by Harris Interactive (US) March-May 2007.



    (6) Cella et al, Quality of life of postmenopausal women in the ATAC
('Arimidex', Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) trial after completion of 5
years' Adjuvant Treatment for early breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and
Treatment, 2006. 100(3): p. 273-284.