A case of aged advanced breast cancer with multiple lung and pleural metastases responding to exemestane monotherapy

A 76-year-old woman was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer with bilateral multiple lung and pleural metastases in March 2003. Her CEA and CA15-3 level were 7.6 ng/ml and 98.3 U/l, respectively. However, she refused intensive chemotherapy and chose a hormonal monotherapy with exemestane instead. The patient then did not return to our department for about one year, during which time she continued to take the same medications. When she visited again, CEA and CA15-3 level were reduced to within the normal range, and her multiple lung and pleural metastases were found to have almost completely disappeared upon computed tomography. Exemestane is expected to be an effective agent for the treatment of hormonal receptor-positive postmenopausal woman with life-threatening advanced breast cancer.