Tamoxifen (antiestrogen) therapy in advanced breast cancer.

Fifty-nine postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer were treated with tamoxifen (antiestrogen), 20 mg orally twice a day for at least 2 months. They had been previously treated with other types of hormonal therapy or intensive chemotherapies, or both. Nineteen of the 59 patients (32%) had either a complete response (seven patients) or partial response (12 patients). The median duration of response was 9+ months. Tumors containing estrogen receptors and those that responded to previous hormonal manipulation tended to respond to tamoxifen (60% and 69%, respectively). Patients with receptor-negative tumor or with a history of failure of previous hormonal treatments did not respond to tamoxifen therapy. Tamoxifen is effective against advanced breast cancer. Side effects of the treatment were mild.