OUTLINE:~Patients receive letrozole orally (PO) once daily (QD) for 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. If tumor resection occurs before or after day 22, letrozole administration must occur for a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 70 days of total treatment. Patients also undergo collection of saliva samples.
This stage IV trial examines how a mutation in HSD3B1 (1245C) gene affects treatment of stage I-III breast cancer. This trial may help researchers determine if mutations in HSD3B1 decreases the efficacy of aromatase inhibitor therapy such as letrozole. Letrozole may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.