title: Combination of beta-interferon and tamoxifen as a new way to overcome clinical resistance to tamoxifen in advanced breast cancer.
abstract: This paper shows that the response to tamoxifen (T) can be improved and the resistance to the antiestrogen can be overcome, in advanced breast cancer, by a pretreatment with natural beta-interferon (nIFN-beta) followed by the association of nIFN-beta with T. Forty-three patients with advanced breast cancer, both progressive (group A) and stable or partially responsive (group B) to previous treatment with T received nIFN-beta i.m. 3 x 10(6) IU/day for 14 days and, subsequently, T30 mg/day and nIFN-beta once a week. The overall objective response rate was 26% (95% Confidence Interval = 13-39) with 8 PR obtained in group A and 3 CR in group B. The median duration of response was 6 months (range 3-12+). Stabilization of disease was observed in 44% of cases. Toxicity was mild.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Oncologico, USL12-Ospedale S. Maria, Terni, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buzzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brugia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giustini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scoponi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sica
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013629:Tamoxifen; D016899:Interferon-beta