Tamoxifen as the primary treatment for breast cancer in elderly patients
Elena, H.; Jimenez, R.; Caprarulo, L.; Asís, M.; Cassanello, G.
Medicina 52(3): 236-239
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7680 PMID: 1342689 Document Number: 395922
A total of 21 elderly patients with breast carcinoma without evidence of systemic dissemination received tamoxifen (20 mg daily) as primary treatment. Of these 57% had a potentially operable tumor (stages I:2, IIa:6, IIb:2, IIIa:2) with a high operative risk that contraindicated the surgery and 43% had a locally advanced tumor unfit for primary radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or surgery. The mean age was 81.3 +/- 5.7 years (range 70-91). Diagnosis was made by fine-needle aspiration cytology in 16 patients and by incision biopsy in 5 of them. The median follow-up was 11.5 months (range 3-54). In 67% there was a clinical objective response (RC: 14%, RP: 53%), and 33% had disease stabilization. There was no evidence of systemic dissemination during the follow-up. Two patients who had achieved a partial response with a duration of 11 and 54 months, respectively, had a loco regional progress. One of them responded to a second hormonal treatment. Of the patients, 81% are still alive, and 14% died of other causes. One patient was lost during the follow-up. These preliminary results show a high loco regional response to tamoxifen. A higher number of patients and a longer time of follow-up are needed to establish the habitual use of tamoxifen as primary treatment of breast carcinoma in elderly patients.