As a physician and researcher dedicated to advancing the field of breast cancer treatment and prevention, I wanted to draw your attention to the pending fate of the Study to Evaluate Letrozole and Raloxifene, or NSABP P-4, a new clinical study designed to evaluate efficacy of a drug that could reduce breast cancer incidence by more than 70 percent.

The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project's P-4 clinical trial is the next logical step in the evolution of breast cancer prevention and could save tens of thousands of lives.

After the study underwent a rigorous review process - including seven different approvals by various National Cancer Institute committees - NCI's director abruptly halted activation of NSABP P-4 and continues to delay trial commencement.

It is not acceptable to withhold funding for a study that represents a vital opportunity to dramatically reduce the toll of breast cancer, given that more than 175,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, and 40,000 will lose their lives to this disease.

Time is of the essence. We must persuade the NCI to release funding now for the critically important NSABP P-4 trial or potentially risk losing this opportunity forever.

John W. Kugler, M.D.

Peoria

The writer is principal investigator, Illinois Oncology Research Association. He also practices at the Community Cancer

Center in Normal.