The efficacy of tamoxifen in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Activity of tamoxifen as a salvage therapy in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer was evaluated by a number of studies. In this study, we evaluated efficacy of tamoxifen in our patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian carcinoma.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients who received tamoxifen at a dose 20 mg twice daily for the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine eligible patients were included to the study. There were 1 (3%) complete response, 2 (7%) partial response, 6 (21%) stable disease, and 20 (69%) progressive disease. All patients were progressed after initiation of tamoxifen. Median progression-free survival was 4 mo (95% CI: 2.98-5.02). Disease progression of 19 (65%) patients were shown within the first 6 mo after initiation of tamoxifen. Progression-free survival was between 6 and 12 mo for 7 (24%) patients and > or =12 mo for 3 (10%) patients. The median survival after initiation of tamoxifen was 15 mo (95% CI: 7.2-22.8). No toxicity attributable to tamoxifen was seen in any of the patients. The only independent prognostic factor that had a significant predictive value for progression- free survival was the response to tamoxifen treatment (p = 0.043, hazard ratio: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.01-0.94).


CONCLUSIONS
Considering minimal side effects and ability to cause objective responses, there is a place for tamoxifen in treatment of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. A phase III trial is required to con- firm the value of the drug in patients presenting these clinical settings.
Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Turkey. hkaragol@hotmail.com
Hakan
H
Karagol
Pinar
P
Saip
Kazim
K
Uygun
Murat
M
Caloglu
Yesim
Y
Eralp
Faruk
F
Tas
Adnan
A
Aydiner
Erkan
E
Topuz
D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen