Letrozole in Metastatic Breast Cancer in Combination With Chemotherapy

Inclusion criteria * Histologically proven metastatic breast cancer * Measurable disease, patients with bone only disease are not eligible * Age ≥ 65 years * Performance status ≤ 2 (World Health Organization) * Estimated life expectancy under therapy of at least 3 months * Estrogen-/progesterone-receptor status positive or unknown * Signed informed consent Exclusion criteria * Prior chemo- or hormone therapy for metastatic breast cancer; prior therapy with aromatase inhibitors in the adjuvant setting * Disease-free interval after adjuvant therapy \< 1 year * Clinical signs of central nervous system metastases * Renal, bone marrow, or liver insufficiency * Severe coronary heart disease, cardiac insufficiency or other severe concomitant internal diseases * Pulmonary fibrosis/alveolitis Additional protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.