Comparative trial of endocrine versus cytotoxic treatment in advanced breast cancer. Issue 6071 (14th May 1977)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Priestman, T; Baum, M; Jones, V; Forbes, J
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 1:Issue 6071(1977)
• Page Start: 1248
• Page End: 1250
• Publication Date: 1977-05-14
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.6071.1248
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : Ninety-two women with advanced breast cancer were allocated at random to receive either cytotoxic or endocrine treatment. Out of 45 women included in the cytotoxic treatment group, 22 (49%) achieved complete or partial remission of their disease, whereas of the 47 included in the endocrine treatment group, only 10 (21%) achieved such remission. Significantly longer survival times in the cytotoxic treatment group were most apparent among premenopausal women, 75% of such patients responding to cytotoxic drugs (median survival 46 weeks) compared with only 11% benefiting from ovarian ablation (median survival 12 weeks). In postmenopausal women with predominantly soft-tissue disease, however, additive hormonal treatment with tamoxifen produced remission rates and survival times equivalent to those produced by cytotoxic drugs.