title: Phase II and III clinical trials of toremifene for metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: Toremifene (Fareston) received FDA approval in 1997 for the first-line treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive or -unknown metastatic breast cancer. Phase II and III trials have demonstrated that first-line therapy with toremifene, 60 mg/d, is as effective and as well tolerated as tamoxifen (Nolvadex), 20 or 40 mg/d, in such patients. To date, phase III trials have failed to show a statistically significant advantage of higher toremifene doses over standard doses of tamoxifen in these women. Studies appeared to indicate minimal efficacy of high toremifene doses in women with ER-negative tumors, but the number of patients studied was small. Although results of some trials of high-dose (240 mg/d) toremifene in tamoxifen-"refractory" patients were negative, other trials that included prolonged (> or = 6 months) stable disease as an indication of clinical benefit yielded positive results.
authors.affiliation: Columbia Cancer Research Network of Florida, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017312:Toremifene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen; D017312:Toremifene