A retrospective study of high-dose toremifene treatment for patients with aromatase inhibitor refractory advanced or metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer
Koyama, H.; Iesato, A.; Fukushima, Y.; Okada, T.; Watanabe, T.; Harada, M.; Ito, T.; Maeno, K.; Mochizuki, Y.; Ito, K.; Amano, J.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 38(7): 1123-1126
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 21772095 Document Number: 655354
Aromatase inhibitors (AI) have largely replaced tamoxifen as the first-line of treatment for postmenopausal women with advanced or metastatic hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. However, there is no established strategy for treating AI refractory cases. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of high-dose Toremifene therapy (HD-TOR). From January 2001 through April 2010, nineteen patients received 120 mg of TOR daily. The overall response rate was 36.8% (CR; 1, PR; 6), and the clinical benefit was 47.4%. The clinical benefit rate to each of the metastatic organs were: lung, 42.9%; bone, 13%; liver, 25%; and lymph node, 40%. A higher clinical benefit rate was observed in lung or lymph node metastases. The clinical benefit rate of HD-TOR as first to third-line therapy was 50%, which was more effective than that of fourth-line therapy. Our data suggests that HD-TOR may be one of the effective treatment strategies for patients with AI refractory advanced or metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.