Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically verified breast cancer (punch biopsy), established HER-2/neu status

- Postmenopausal patients (> 1 year following outset of menopause and/or postmenopausal
hormonal profile)

- Clinical staging: T2 (> 3 cm), T3, T4a-c, N0-1

- Hormone receptor positivity, i.e. estrogen and/or progesterone receptor > 10 fmol/mg
cytosolic protein or ER-ICA-positive and/or PgR-ICA-positive. Positivity of +
(low-grade) in one hormone receptor is only eligible in the presence of positivity in
the other hormone receptor.

- no internal contraindication

- life expectation > 6 month

- written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

- premenopausal patients and patients with no clearly indicated menopausal status

- manifest second malignant tumor (except basalioma or in situ carcinoma of cervix
uteri)

- uncontrolled internal disease i.e. diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease (NYHA III/IV)

- thromboembolic disease

- inflammatory mamma carcinoma

- existence of distant metastases

- former or simultaneously therapy with antioestrogens, aromatase inhibitors,
cytostatics or radiotherapy

- corticosteroids before and during the study (except inhalant application)

- lack of compliance