Two recently conducted studies have shown that two different classes of drugs can help to reduce the deaths caused due to breast cancer. The inexpensive drugs, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and bisphosphonates, can improve survival prospects for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.

The study researchers suggested that the two types of drug could be used together, increasing the benefits and decreasing some side-effects.

Lead author of both studies Professor Richard Gray, from the University of Oxford, UK said in a statement that the studies provide a clear evidence that both of these inexpensive, generic drugs could help to reduce breast cancer mortality in postmenopausal women.

He also said that about two-thirds of all women with breast cancer are postmenopausal with hormone-sensitive tumours, so they could potentially benefit from both drugs.

The drugs are complementary because the main side effect of aromatase inhibitors is an increase in bone loss and fractures, while bisphosphonates reduce bone loss and fractures as well as improving survival, he said.

The drugs are available in generic form and can reduce the recurrence of breast cancer in post-menopausal women as well as death rates from the disease, a pair of studies reported Friday.

The research published in medical journal The Lancet showed that if both the drugs will be taken together they can further boost anti-cancer benefits and help cancel out undesirable side-effects of one of the drugs.