Safety assessment of tamoxifen and toremifene.
Nonclinical and clinical safety studies on the two antiestrogens, tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and toremifene (Fareston), are reviewed. Tamoxifen is genotoxic, carcinogenic in experimental animals, and carcinogenic in humans. Toremifene has yielded some positive findings for genotoxicity, but was not an initiating carcinogen in experimental animals. Thus, toremifene has a superior nonclinical safety profile, although information on its long-term effects in humans is needed to ascertain whether its use results in improved safety.
Williams
G M
GM
American Health Foundation Valhalla, New York, USA.
Jeffrey
A M
AM
D000818:Animals; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017312:Toremifene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen; D017312:Toremifene