Tamoxifen is the drug of choice for women with metastasizing-breast cancer if they produce one of the following requirements:

• estrogen receptor-positive primary tumour
• rebound at the earliest 2 years after diagnosis (independent of the age of the patient)
• soft tissue, bone or pulmonary metastases
• the patient is more than 60 years of age

In these cases (as well as in men with breast cancer metastases) tamoxifen achieves a remission in 30 to 60%. Hepatic metastases are hormone resistant.

The benefit of an adjuvant hormone therapy (following the operation of the primary tumour) is particularly pronounced in postmenopausal women with axillary node-positive breast cancer if the tumour is receptor-positive. In the premenopausal period, an adjuvant chemotherapy is given preference (at least initially). However, there have been several studies where premenopausal women without axillary node-positive breast cancer have profited from tamoxifen. The reduction of mortality in all women over 50 treated with tamoxifen is approximately 20% in 5 years.

Older women, for whom an operation is not feasible, can be treated with tamoxifen alone.

In some infertile men and women, tamoxifen can produce pregnancy respectively fertility.

Table of Contents | Pharmacology | Adverse Reactions & Interactions | Contraindications & Cautions | Risk Groups | References