A phase II trial of tamoxifen in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Because prolonged estrogen therapy can initiate hepatic adenomas, and estrogen receptors (ER) are found in 33% of hepatocellular carcinomas, a Phase II study of antiestrogen therapy was initiated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Tamoxifen (20 mg twice a day) was administered to 33 patients who had biopsy proven and measurable hepatocellular carcinoma and who had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1. No patient had a complete or partial antitumor response; eight patients had stable disease ranging from 5 to 13 months. The median survival time for all patients was 6 months from the initiation of tamoxifen therapy. Four patients have continuing long-term survival of 18+, 22+, and 39+ months.
Engstrom
P F
PF
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111.
Levin
B
B
Moertel
C G
CG
Schutt
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013629:Tamoxifen