Adjuvant tamoxifen for male breast cancer (MBC).
A study was started in 1976 whereby patients with Stage II and operable Stage III MBC were given adjuvant Tamoxifen for 1 year, increasing to 2 years from 1988. All patients had axillary nodal involvement. Primary treatment consisted of a radical mastectomy or simple mastectomy with radiotherapy. The rarity of the disease precluded a randomised trial. Thirty-nine patients are available for analysis at a median follow-up of 49 months. The actuarial survival of the Tamoxifen treated patients is 61% (range 42-80%) at 5 years compared to 44% (range 35-53%) for historical controls (P = 0.006). Disease-free survival was 56% (37-75%) vs 28% (17-33%) at 5 years (P = 0.005). There were no serious side-effects recorded. The conclusion from this, the first reported series on adjuvant Tamoxifen therapy for MBC, is that significant improvement in disease-free survival can be achieved with minimal upset to the patients. Recruitment to the study continues.
Ribeiro
G
G
Department of Clinical Oncology and Medical Statistics, Christie Hospital, Withington, Manchester, UK.
Swindell
R
R
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013629:Tamoxifen