title: Tamoxifen as sole therapy for primary breast cancer in the elderly patient.
abstract: In a retrospective study the data concerning 40 patients, with primary operable breast cancer were analysed. The mean follow-up of the patient group was 29 months. All patients received tamoxifen only. 17 (43%) reached remission and there was stable disease in 16 (40%). 7 (18%) showed progression, although they have had stable disease for at least 18 months. There were 1 local, 1 distant and 5 local plus distant progressions. 3 patients required salvage mastectomy. The mean progression-free interval was 33 months. Death was attributable to breast carcinoma in only 6 patients (15%). The 3-year survival was 47.2%. We conclude that primary treatment with tamoxifen as a sole therapy is acceptable in operable breast carcinoma for those patients for whom surgery is contraindicated or who refuse surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Foudraine
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Verhoef
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Burghouts
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000502:physiology; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D013629:Tamoxifen