Economic analysis of phase III clinical data indicates that anastrozole is a cost-effective treatment for patients with advanced breast cancer. Anastrozole was associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £1608 per additional life-year gained, compared with megestrol, reported Mr JS Brown from Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, UK, at the First European Conference on the Economics of Cancer [Belgium, Brussels; November 1997]. For most patients with advanced disease, the main aim of treatment is palliation, using endocrine therapy to restrict tumour growth and minimise symptoms.*Until recently, standard second-line therapy has been with either a progesterone (e.g. megestrol or medroxyprogesterone) or a nonspecific aromatase inhibitor (e.g. aminoglutethimide).