title: [High dose tamoxifen in the reversal treatment of multidrug resistance to EP regimen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the reversal effect of high dose tamoxifen on multidrug resistance to EP regimen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 41 patients with NSCLC were studied, who were resistant to EP regimen and were proved to have P-gp protein overexpression. All patients were randomizedly divided into two arms. Reversal group (n=21) received oral tamoxifen 100?mg, 2 times everyday on D1-5, together with EP regimen. Control group (n=20) were only given EP regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In reversal group, complete response occurred in 1 patient, and partial response in 5; disease remained stable in 11 patients, and tumor progression occurred in 4 patients. The response rate was 28.6%(6/21). In control group, no response occurred; 9 patients had stable diseases, and the other 11 progressed. There was a significant difference in response rate between the two groups (P=0.012?1). In reversal and control groups, the median survivals were 8.4 and 4.6 months respectively (P < 0.01), and 1-year survial rates were 38.1% and 35.0% respectively. Reversal of P-gp occurred in 7 cases of reversal group (33.3%),and none in control group (P= 0.005?2) . There was no significant difference in toxicities between the two groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High dose tamoxifen can remarkably downregulate the expression of P-gp and partially reverse the multidrug resistance to EP regimen for non-small cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Zhuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hongxia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhaofei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Liangxi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Jifeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Fulin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang