Phase II study of high-dose tamoxifen (NSC-180973) in patients with disseminated malignant melanoma.

Seventeen patients with disseminated malignant melanoma received a daily oral regimen of tamoxifen, 100 mg/m2. All patients had prior chemotherapy and predominantly visceral involvement. None of the patients had an objective regression and most (71%) had progressive disease at the time of first reassessment. Moderate to severe nausea occurred in 24% of patients. In the dose and schedule used in this study, tamoxifen is ineffective in patients with advanced malignant melanoma and prior chemotherapy exposure.