Tamoxifen. Use in treatment of metastatic breast cancer refractory to combination chemotherapy

Abstract

Tamoxifen citrate (Nolvadex [Great Britain]; no comparable U.S.A. product) is a recently developed antiestrogen with significant activity against metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Its usefulness was investigated in breast cancer patients after conventional endocrine therapy and combination chemotherapy had failed. Of the 50 evaluable patients, 4 (8%) achieved a complete remission, 14 (28%) achieved a partial remission, and 10 showed a less than partial response or stabilization of their disease. Median duration of response was 8 mo., and the survival of responders was significantly prolonged compared to that of the nonresponders. Side effects of the treatment were mild. Tamoxifen offers the best choice of therapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer after conventional endocrine therapy and combination chemotherapy have failed.