What is the recommended full dose of elecestrant (Oral Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader) for patients with advanced or metastatic estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer?

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Last updated: December 10, 2025View editorial policy

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Elacestrant Full Dose Recommendation

The recommended full dose of elacestrant is 345 mg orally once daily, taken continuously until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 1

FDA-Approved Dosing Regimen

  • Elacestrant 345 mg orally once daily is the standard dose approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for postmenopausal women or adult men with ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have progressed after at least one line of endocrine therapy. 1

  • Treatment should continue until unequivocal disease progression or development of unacceptable toxicity. 1

Patient Population for Elacestrant Use

  • Elacestrant is specifically indicated only for patients with documented ESR1 mutations (in the estrogen receptor 1 gene), as the benefit-risk assessment in patients without ESR1 mutations was not favorable for FDA approval. 1

  • The drug is approved for use after progression on at least one prior line of endocrine therapy, including patients previously treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors and/or fulvestrant. 2, 1

  • In the pivotal EMERALD trial, 52% of patients had received prior CDK4/6 inhibitors and 52% had received prior SERD therapy, demonstrating efficacy even in heavily pretreated populations. 2

Clinical Efficacy Supporting This Dose

  • The 345 mg once daily dose demonstrated statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival in ESR1-mutated patients (HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.39-0.77; P=0.0005) compared to standard endocrine therapy. 1

  • The objective response rate was 19.4% overall in phase I studies at the 400 mg dose (which was the recommended phase II dose before final formulation adjustment to 345 mg), with 33.3% response rate specifically in patients with ESR1 mutations. 2

  • Clinical benefit rate at 24 weeks was 56.5% in patients with ESR1 mutations. 2

Dosing Administration Details

  • Elacestrant should be taken orally once daily as a continuous regimen without scheduled breaks. 1

  • The phase I study established that 400 mg once daily had an acceptable safety profile with no dose-limiting toxicities, which informed the final approved dose of 345 mg. 2

  • The drug is available in tablet formulation for oral administration. 2

Common Adverse Events and Management

  • The most common adverse events at the recommended dose include nausea (33.3%), increased blood triglycerides (25.0%), and decreased blood phosphorus (25.0%). 2

  • Most adverse events are grade 1-2 in severity, with upper gastrointestinal symptoms being the predominant side effects. 3, 2

  • More patients receiving elacestrant experienced nausea, vomiting, and dyslipidemia compared to standard endocrine therapy. 1

Critical Pitfall to Avoid

  • Do not use elacestrant in patients without confirmed ESR1 mutations, as the FDA approval is restricted to ESR1-mutated disease only—the benefit-risk assessment was not favorable in ESR1 wild-type patients despite statistical significance in the overall intention-to-treat population. 1

  • ESR1 mutation testing via circulating tumor DNA or tissue biopsy must be performed before initiating elacestrant therapy. 1

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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