Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Female, age ≥ 18 years. * Histologic or cytologic diagnosis of breast carcinoma. * Part A: T1-4 breast cancer with measurable primary breast tumor, defined as palpable tumor with both diameters 2.0cm or greater as measured by caliper. Newly diagnosed metastatic patients with measurable primary breast tumor ≥2cm are eligible provided that there are plans for toilet mastectomy after completing 14 weeks of pre-operative drug therapy. Patients must not have received prior chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for the treatment of the current breast cancer. * Part B: Patients with metastatic breast cancer with measurable tumor by RECIST criteria.Patients previously treated with letrozole are eligible if they progressed on letrozole ≥1 year after adjuvant treatment, or ≥ 6 months in the metastatic setting. * ECOG 0-1. * Estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks. * Adequate organ function including the following: * Bone marrow: * Absolute neutrophil (segmented and bands) count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L * Platelets ≥ 100 x 109/L * Hepatic: * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN), * ALT or AST ≤ 2.5x ULN, (or ≤5 X with liver metastases) * Renal: Creatinine ≤ 1.5x ULN • Post-menopausal women. Post-menopausal status is defined either by * Age ≥ 60 years and one year or more of amenorrhea * Age \< 60 years and one year or more of amenorrhea (in the absence of ovarian suppression) and with estradiol and FSH levels consistent with menopause, \*Treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist (goserelin acetate or leuprolide acetate) is not permitted for induction of ovarian suppression for Part A (patients with non-metastatic disease receiving the study treatment as neoadjuvant therapy). However, in Part B (patients with metastatic disease), pre-menopausal women who are treated with medical ovarian suppression with post-menopausal levels of estradiol (institutional limits) at time of study entry and who will continue to be suppressed with 4-weekly LHRH agonist during study treatment may be enrolled. If these patients were previously on 12-weekly long-acting LHRH agonist, this has to be switched to 4-weekly LHRH agonist while the patient is on study treatment. • Signed informed consent from patient or legal representative. Exclusion Criteria: * Treatment within the last 30 days with any investigational drug. * Concurrent administration of any other tumor therapy, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and immunotherapy. * Major surgery within 28 days of study drug administration. * Active infection that in the opinion of the investigator would compromise the patient's ability to tolerate therapy. * Pregnancy. * Breast feeding. * Serious concomitant disorders that would compromise the safety of the patient or compromise the patient's ability to complete the study, at the discretion of the investigator. * Active bleeding disorder or bleeding site. * Non-healing wound. * Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. * Second primary malignancy that is clinically detectable at the time of consideration for study enrollment. * Symptomatic brain metastasis. * History of significant neurological or mental disorder, including seizures or dementia.