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High dose tamoxifen plus cisplatin and etoposide in the treatment of patients with advanced, inoperable nonsmall cell lung carcinoma
Author(s) -
Yang ChihHsin,
Cheng AnnLii,
Yeh KunHuei,
Yu ChongJen,
Lin JingFang,
Yang PanChyr
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990801)86:3<415::aid-cncr9>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - medicine , tamoxifen , etoposide , carcinoma , oncology , cisplatin , toxicity , chemotherapy , progressive disease , gastroenterology , urology , cancer , breast cancer
BACKGROUND Tamoxifen sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. High dose tamoxifen has been tested in the treatment of patients with melanoma and other cancers. The authors conducted a Phase II study of high dose tamoxifen plus cisplatin and etoposide for patients with advanced, inoperable nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. METHODS Patients with Stage IIIB, Stage IV, or recurrent disease; good performance status; measurable lesions; and good organ function were eligible. Tamoxifen 150 mg/m 2 /day, divided into 4 doses, was given for 8 days. Cisplatin 60 mg/m 2 was given on Day 4. Etoposide 60 mg/m 2 /day was given on Days 4–8. Patients were allowed to remain in the study until either intolerable toxicity was observed or disease progression occurred. RESULTS Forty patients were accrued and received a total of 191 cycles of treatment. All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. One patient had a complete remission and 14 had a partial remission (overall response rate, 37.5%). The median survival was 47 weeks. One‐year survival was 44%. Increased thrombotic episodes were noted; all were clinically manageable. CONCLUSIONS High dose tamoxifen can be administered safely in combination with cisplatin and etoposide to patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. Favorable response rates and survival times were obtained. The value of high dose tamoxifen in the treatment of patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma can be evaluated further in randomized Phase III studies. Cancer 1999;86:415–20. © 1999 American Cancer Society.