We reviewed therapeutic effects and harmful side effects in 33 patients with 
advanced or recurrent breast cancer who underwent treatment with Anastrozole 1 
mg/day in our department. The patients ranged in age from 40 to 83 years old 
(median, 59). The Performance Status was 0-2, and there was 1 case of advanced 
breast cancer and 32 cases of recurrent breast cancer. The duration of disease 
was from 5 to 233 months (median, 50 months). The estrogen and/or progesterone 
receptor-positive rate was 72.7%. Metastatic sites were in multiple organs in 9 
cases, in the lung only in 1 case, in bone only in 12 cases, and in soft tissue 
only in 10 cases. First-line therapy was used in 10 cases, second-line therapy 
in 6 cases, and above third-line therapy in 17 cases. There was a complete 
response in 3 cases, partial response in 5 cases, no long change in 13 cases, no 
change in 9 cases, and progressive disease in 3 cases. The response rate was 
24.3%, The response period ranged from 2 to 22 months (median, 8 months), and 
clinical benefit was achieved in 63.7%. The clinical benefit rates for 
first-line were 60%, second-line 83.3% and above third-line therapy 58.8%. The 
response rate for patients with breast cancer resistant to Anthracyclines and/or 
Taxanes was 20%. Time-to-progression ranged from 2 to 28 months (median, 11 
months), and overall survival ranged from 7 to 30 months (median, 15 months). 
The most frequent harmful side effects were rise in total cholesterol, general 
fatigue, hot flashes and arthralgia (9.1%). In this study, we confirmed the 
availability and safety of Anastrozole, which was suggested to be a useful drug 
in salvage therapy for patients having resistance to Anthracyclines and/or 
Taxanes, not only but also useful as a first- or second-line therapy.