Tamoxifen in unresectable hypernephroma. A phase II trial and review of the literature.

Estrogen receptors have been demonstrated in human hypernephroma (renal cell carcinoma). Antiestrogens have been demonstrated to have antitumor activity in animal models of this disease. A prospective trial of tamoxifen therapy was undertaken in 10 consecutive patients with unresectable hypernephroma. No major responses to tamoxifen were observed. A review of the literature on antiestrogen therapy for this tumor reveals 148 published cases of hypernephroma treated with tamoxifen or nafoxidine. The overall response rate was 7.4%. Antiestrogens appear to have little clinical usefulness in the treatment of advanced hypernephroma.