Uses
Exemestane is used along with other medications for the treatment of estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer (breast tumors that need estrogen to grow) in postmenopausal women, following 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen therapy. It is also used in later stages of estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer (advanced breast cancer) in postmenopausal women who have not responded to an anti-estrogen therapy earlier.
How it works
Exemestane is an anti-cancer drug which belongs to the class, steroidal aromatase inhibitors. It works by inhibiting aromatase that is responsible for converting other hormones in the body called androgens to estrogens, thereby reducing the amounts of estrogen in the body which in turn slows or stops the growth of breast tumors that need estrogen to grow.