title: Controlled clinical trial of doxorubicin and tamoxifen versus doxorubicin alone in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Following reports that specific estrogen receptors could be detected in samples of hepatocellular carcinoma tissue, a prospective randomized controlled trial was undertaken in 59 patients, half of whom received doxorubicin (60 mg/m2 at 3-week intervals) and half doxorubicin and tamoxifen (10 mg twice per day). Response occurred in three (11%) of those patients receiving doxorubicin alone and in four (16%) of those given both drugs. This difference was not statistically significant nor was the difference in survival when compared by life-table analysis. One patient treated with both drugs achieved complete remission for 30 months which was maintained (on tamoxifen alone) for 18 months before death from a non-tumor-related condition. Tamoxifen may have a role in maintenance of doxorubicin-induced remissions.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004317:Doxorubicin