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Tamoxifen and 5-fluorouracil in breast cancer: modulation of cellular RNA.

Biochemical studies were undertaken with the human breast carcinoma cell line, 47-DN, to explore the mechanisms underlying cytotoxic synergy between tamoxifen (TAM) and the fluoropyrimidines, 5-fluorouracil (FUra) and 5-fluorouridine (FUrd). The influence of TAM pretreatment was measured on intracellular FUra accumulation, FUra nucleotide formation, and incorporation of fluoropyrimidines into cellular RNA. Unlike other modulators of FUra metabolism and toxicity. TAM decreased intracellular FUra accumulation and total RNA incorporation by 20 to 60%. Cells treated with TAM contained 10 to 20% less cellular RNA and showed reduced transcription and altered RNA turnover, independent of fluoropyrimidine treatment. Newly synthesized RNA from control and TAM-treated cells was fractionated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The specific incorporation of FUrd (2 hr) was compared to that of FUra (6 hr) and labeled uridine incorporation into controls. Compared to its effect on uridine incorporation, TAM produced nearly twice as much FUra incorporation and 3 times as much FUra incorporation into 32 to 45S RNA. Since accumulation of this high-molecular-weight RNA has been associated with fluoropyrimidine toxicity and impaired ribosomal RNA processing, it is believed that TAM enriched the RNA-mediated toxicity of FUra and FUrd in this breast carcinoma cell line.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Tamoxifen and aminoglutethimide in advanced breast cancer.

Tamoxifen (TAM), a standard endocrine treatment for advanced breast cancer, probably acts by competing for the estrogen receptor protein in the breast tumor cells. If so, resistance to TAM may be a function of the level of the available endogenous estrogen. Inhibition of estrogen synthesis by aminoglutethimide may therefore facilitate the action of the antiestrogen. To test this hypothesis, the two agents were given concurrently (a) to patients who had become resistant to TAM and (b) to patients who had never received TAM in a randomized cross-over study against TAM alone. Patients with estrogen receptor protein-negative disease were excluded. Estrogen and aminoglutethimide levels were measured serially. In the first study, four of 26 patients experienced partial responses, and four of 26, stabilization of their disease. In the randomized study, four of 11 patients on the combination and three of nine on TAM alone had responses. Two patients on the combination and three on TAM alone had stabilization of disease. In the first group, the low rate of response may be attributed to extensive prior treatment. In the randomized study, there is presently no clear advantage for one treatment, and overall, there was no statistically significant correlation between degree of estrogen suppression, aminoglutethimide level, and response. The findings do not exclude the possibility that these agents may act in breast cancer by mechanisms other than inhibition of estrogen receptor.

Adult↗

Growth inhibition in response to estrogen withdrawal and tamoxifen therapy of human breast cancer xenografts evaluated by in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy, creatine kinase activity, and apoptotic index.

Estrogen withdrawal versus tamoxifen (TAM) treatment was compared in two human breast cancer xenografts, the estrogen-dependent ZR75-1 and its estrogen-independent subline ZR75/LCC-3. The following parameters were determined: tumor growth, NTP:P(i) by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy, apoptotic index, and creatine kinase (CK) activity. Tumors of each line were grown in ovariectomized nude mice during stimulation from a s.c. 17 beta-estradiol pellet. At a tumor size of approximately 350 mm3, the pellet was removed from one-half of the animals. The remaining one-half served as controls. In parallel experiments, injections of TAM were initiated instead of estrogen withdrawal. Estrogen withdrawal as well as TAM induced growth inhibition of ZR75-1 tumors, whereas ZR75/LCC-3 was resistant to both types of therapy. Growth inhibition of ZR75-1 by estrogen withdrawal, but not by TAM, was accompanied by an 80% increase of the NTP:P(i) ratio (P < 0.01) and a significantly decreased cytosolic CK activity (P < 0.01). No significant change in pH was observed. These changes seemed not to be related to changes in apoptotic index. None of the described changes occurred in ZR75/LCC-3. The present data indicate: (a) ZR75-1 and ZR75/LCC-3 xenografts respond differently to estrogen withdrawal and TAM with regard to growth inhibition, 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and CK activity; (b) estrogen withdrawal, but not TAM, induced a decrease in the CK activity of estrogen-dependent tumor tissue, and (c) increased apoptosis did not explain the growth inhibition and the increase in NTP:P(i) induced by estrogen withdrawal. The results indicate other growth inhibitory mechanisms of TAM in addition to competitive inhibition of the estrogen receptor.

Animals↗

Effect of tamoxifen on the multidrug-resistant phenotype in human breast cancer cells: isobologram, drug accumulation, and M(r) 170,000 glycoprotein (gp170) binding studies.

We have performed isobologram analyses of the ability of tamoxifen (TAM) to alter the response to Adriamycin (ADR) and vinblastine (VBL) in human breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells express functional receptors for estrogen and progesterone but do not express detectable levels of M(r) 170,000 glycoprotein (gp170). CL 10.3 and MCF-7ADR cells are MCF-7 variants which express gp170. CL 10.3 but not MCF-7ADR cells express functional steroid hormone receptors. Tamoxifen (1-2.5 microM) interacts synergistically with ADR and VBL in CL 10.3 and MCF-7ADR cells. TAM increases the cytotoxicity of VBL and ADR and the intracellular levels of [3H]VBL by approximately 2-3-fold. TAM also prevents the binding of [3H]azidopine to gp170. The ability of TAM to concurrently increase the cytotoxic effects of ADR and VBL, increase VBL accumulation, and inhibit the binding of azidopine to gp170 strongly implies that the synergistic effects of TAM are mediated through its effects on gp170. TAM produces an antagonistic to additive interaction with ADR and VBL in MCF-7 cells, and at high concentrations (5 microM) the synergy apparent in CL 10.3 and MCF-7ADR cells is lost. While TAM clearly has a significant potential for use as a chemosensitizing agent, the design of clinical trials may require careful consideration.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

The effect of tamoxifen treatment on serum cholesterol fractions in breast cancer women.

Serum levels of total, free, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were determined in 45 postmenopausal breast cancer women treated with tamoxifen (TAM) from 6 to 73 months (mean duration of TAM treatment was 21.3 months) as an adjuvant therapy after mastectomy, and in the control group of 33 breast cancer women at the time of diagnosis before any treatment. The mean age of patients was 63 years in the TAM treated group and 70 years in the untreated breast cancer patients. TAM treated patients were found to have significantly lower concentration of serum total cholesterol (5.43 mmol/l vs. 6.44 mmol/l; p < 0.02) and LDL-cholesterol (3.54 mmol/l vs. 4.32 mmol/l; p < 0.01). There were 8 (18%) hypercholesterolemic patients in the TAM treated group vs. 13 (39%) in the untreated breast cancer patients (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in serum concentrations of free and HDL-cholesterol in the two evaluated groups. We conclude that the TAM-induced changes in serum lipid concentrations are due to an estrogen-like activity of the agent and the reduction of total and LDL-cholesterol level seems to be an additional advantage of TAM treatment.

Aged↗

[Recent development of endocrine treatment for breast cancer--new drugs and new treatment methods using tamoxifen].

The characteristics and clinical efficacies of new hormonal drugs and new treatment methods for breast cancer using tamoxifen (TAM) were described. The new anti-estrogens, such as trioxifen, toremifene and droloxifen, have equal or better clinical efficacy than TAM. They showed a high response rate in postmenopausal patients with no previous treatment or estrogen receptor positive tumors. They were occasionally effective for patients who relapsed after TAM treatment. Pure anti-estrogen ICI 164, 384, with fewer estrogenic agonistic properties than TAM, and anti-estrogen TAT-59, which has been developed in Japan, are under clinical investigation. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists, such as leuprolide, buserelin, triptrelin and goserelin, are available for premenopausal patients, and showed a 37% response rate on average. The pure aromatase inhibitors, such as 4-hydroxyandrostenedione and CGS 16, 949 A, are available for postmenopausal patients, and showed 30% and 17% response rates on average, respectively. The new pure aromatase inhibitor ZD-1033 is also under clinical investigation. TAM or toremifene as well as the calcium antagonist verapamil were proved to overcome the multiple anticancer drug resistance caused by P-glycoprotein. Clinical studies for breast cancer using high-dose TAM as a potential modulator of drug resistance have already been started in Europe and the United States. Chemoprevention of breast cancer using TAM, which started in the U.S., was described.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Short term treatment of tamoxifen and estradiol on estradiol and progesterone receptors in rabbit uterus.

Effects of tamoxifen (Tam) on cytosolic estradiol (E2) receptors (ERc), progesterone (P4) receptors (PRc), nuclear estradiol (ERn) and progesterone receptors (PRn) were studied in adult normal rabbit uterine tissue. The ratio of cytosol: nuclear estradiol receptors (ER) was greater in rabbits treated with Tam than E2 or control uterine tissues. Rabbit uterine progesterone receptors (PR) in E2 treated animal were greater than Tam-treated animals. Tam caused nuclear accumulation of estradiol receptor, and simultaneous administration of E2 + Tam 500, estradiol could not revert Tam mediated accumulation of ER. The results suggest that Tam has an essentially antagonist action in the rabbit uterine tissue.

Animals↗

Tyrosine-containing activation motif-dependent phagocytosis in mast cells.

FcR capable of triggering cell activation share with BCR and TCR a conserved intracytoplasmic tyrosine-containing activation motif (TAM). Besides cell activation, these receptors trigger other biologic responses, such as endocytosis of soluble ligands. Murine mast cells express two types of FcR that, when aggregated by antibodies and multivalent Ag, trigger the release of inflammatory mediators and cytokines. These are high affinity receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) and low affinity receptors for IgG (Fc gamma RIII). They comprise each an IgE- or IgG-binding alpha-subunit and two TAM-containing subunits that associate with both receptors: a beta-subunit and a homodimeric gamma-subunit that can associate also with the other subunits of the TCR. Herein, we focused on biologic activities triggered in mast cells via the TAM of the gamma-subunits. Using rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells stably transfected with cDNA-encoding murine Fc gamma RIII alpha, we found that murine Fc gamma RIII trigger the phagocytosis of antibody-coated erythrocytes. Using RBL transfectants expressing Fc gamma RIII with a deletion of the intracytoplasmic domain of Fc gamma RIII alpha or chimeric receptors having the extracellular and transmembrane domains of Fc gamma RII and the intracytoplasmic domain of Fc gamma RIII alpha, we showed that intracytoplasmic sequences of Fc gamma RIII alpha are neither necessary nor sufficient for Fc gamma RIII to trigger phagocytosis. Using RBL transfectants expressing chimeric receptors having the extracellular and transmembrane domains of Fc gamma RII and the TAM-containing intracytoplasmic domain of murine Fc gamma RIII gamma, we demonstrated that intracytoplasmic sequences of Fc gamma RIII gamma are sufficient to trigger phagocytosis. Using RBL transfectants expressing the same Fc gamma RII-III gamma chimeras, in the TAM of which one, the other, or both tyrosine residues were mutated, we established that tyrosines in the TAM sequence are required for phagocytosis. Our results endow TAM gamma with previously unknown triggering capacities and Fc gamma RIII with new biologic properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Positional cloning of the putative gene responsible for transient abnormal myelopoiesis and that for multiple cartilaginous exostoses].

Positional cloning of the putative gene responsible for transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) and that for multiple cartilaginous exostoses (MEX) is described. TAM is a leukemoid reaction occurring frequently in Down syndrome (DS) newborn infants and they often develop true leukemia several years later. The previous findings of "disomic homozygosity in trisomic cells" and tentative mapping of the TAM gene to 21q11.1, and an encounter of a unique DS-associated TAM patient with inv(21) (q11.1q22.13) let us start positional cloning of the TAM gene. One type of MEX is an autosomal dominant disorder and patients with MEX sometimes develop chondrosarcoma. The MEX gene has been mapped to 8q24. We encountered a sporadic case of MEX with de novo t(8q; 13q). Thus, we hypothesized that in both patients, the TAM and the MEX genes are disrupted by the structural chromosome abnormalities. For TAM, we first mapped the proximal breakpoint of inv(21) between 2 STSs using 7 cosmid clones as FISH probes that were isolated on the basis of STS markers at the 21q11.1 region, isolated their corresponding YACs, and then analyzed them. However, since YACs corresponding to 2 other STSs between the two markers could not be isolated, we carried out a chromosome walking to construct a cosmid contig between the 2 STSs. Southern analysis with a cosmid clone within the contig detected EcoRI-/HindIII extra bands on the patient's DNA. The cDNA screening and exon trapping to isolate a gene from the region are underway. Similarly, in the MEX patient we mapped the 8q breakpoint between 2 cosmid markers, then isolated YACs and cosmid subclones. By exon trapping after detection of a cosmid covering the breakpoint, an exon-like sequence was isolated. The 3'-RACE/5'-RACE revealed a novel transcript from this cosmid. Whether the transcript is the MEX gene remains to be determined.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Tamoxifen down-regulates CD36 messenger RNA levels in normal and neoplastic human breast tissues.

Tamoxifen (TAM) exerts a long-term suppressive effect on human breast cancer cell proliferation. To determine whether the effects of TAM are mediated by specific gene activation or repression, normal and tumoral human breast tissues obtained before and during TAM treatment were analyzed by differential display technique. Total RNA for differential display analysis was obtained from breast tissues from two women with the diagnosis of estrogen receptor-positive stage II (T2N1M0) infiltrating ductal carcinoma, made by incisional biopsy, followed by modified radical mastectomy performed after a 30-day treatment with TAM (20 mg/day). One 202-bp cDNA band, AP5-1, was present in normal and tumoral biopsy samples, but was absent in breast tissue obtained during TAM treatment, and was confirmed by Northern hybridization, which showed a 2.7-kb band in both patients. The differentially expressed cDNA fragment showed 99% homology to Homo sapiens CD36 gene, a glycoprotein that acts as a receptor for the extracellular matrix proteins thrombospondin-1, collagen types I and IV, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein. These results indicate that the down-regulation of CD36 induced by TAM might represent alternative or additional mechanisms of action of this drug affecting the functions of thrombospondin-1, which is involved in hematogenous tumor spread, invasion and angiogenesis, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein, playing a role in inhibition of arteriosclerosis. The multiple functions affected by the down-regulation of CD36 by TAM warrant the need for additional studies.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

Significance of tumour-associated macrophages, vascular endothelial growth factor and thrombospondin-1 expression for tumour angiogenesis and prognosis in endometrial carcinomas.

Angiogenesis is a key process in tumour growth and metastasis, and microvessel density has been found to influence the prognosis of endometrial carcinoma patients. Less is known about regulators of angiogenesis. Studies of other tumour types have indicated that the density of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) might stimulate vessel formation, whereas thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) may inhibit this process. We investigated the influence of TAM (CD68+), VEGF and TSP-1 expression on tumour vascular density and prognosis among endometrial carcinoma patients and compared our findings with clinico-pathological variables and tumour markers. In a prospective study, 60 endometrial carcinoma patients with long (median 11 years) and complete follow-up were included. Intratumour density of TAMs was significantly associated with FIGO stage, histological type, histological grade, DNA index, estradiol receptor concentration, intratumour Ki-67 and p53 protein expression (all p < 0.05). Moderate or strong expression of VEGF was significantly associated with serous papillary/clear cell tumour types, high microvessel density and aneuploidy (p < 0.05). There was a tendency to strong TSP-1 expression among tumours with weak VEGF expression (p=0.09). TAM density influenced survival significantly in univariate survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier method, p<0.05) in contrast to VEGF and TSP-1 expression. In Cox regression analysis, however, no independent prognostic impact remained. In conclusion, moderate or strong VEGF expression was significantly associated with high microvessel density and TAM count was increased in a subgroup of aggressive tumours. High TAM density was significantly associated with reduced survival in univariate analysis.

Cell Count↗

Tamoxifen induces TGF-beta 1 activity and apoptosis of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro.

We report here that the antiestrogen tamoxifen (TAM) induces cell death in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. We assessed the type of cell death induced by TAM in this breast cancer cell line on the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics. Dying cells showed morphological characteristics of apoptosis, such as chromatin condensation and nuclear disintegration. DNA isolated from these cells revealed a pattern of distinctive DNA bands on agarose gel. The DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells induced by TAM could also be detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin end labeling. Northern blot hybridization revealed a substantial increase in the amounts of TRPM-2 and TGF-beta 1 mRNAs in MCF-7 cells after treatment with TAM. In contrast, the mRNA level of the estrogen-induced pS2 gene was strongly suppressed. The biological activity of TGF-beta was increased at least fourfold in the media from MCF-7 cells treated with TAM. The results presented in this study suggest that TAM induces apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and it may be mediated by the secretion of active TGF-beta.

Apoptosis↗

Combined modality therapy for first recurrence of breast cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

The Southwest Oncology Group has completed a study of 213 women with the first recurrence of breast cancer. Eligibility included a radical or modified radical mastectomy for cure and recurrence which had received no other form of therapy. Patients were started on tamoxifen (TAM) 20 mg daily (Phase I). Failures, or responders who subsequently failed, had an oophorectomy if the ovaries were intact, and TAM was continued (Phase II). During Phase III, eligible patients underwent an adrenalectomy, and lastly, in Phase IV, patients received chemotherapy. Responses to TAM were seen in 40% of 56 premenopausal patients, 46% of 95 postmenopausal women, and 44% of 62 patients without intact ovaries. Oophorectomy plus TAM gave responses only in premenopausal women who failed to respond on TAM or in postmenopausal patients who had a prior response to TAM. Adrenalectomy was successful in 7 of 21 patients. Chemotherapy resulted in 13% complete and 47% partial responses. Median overall survival was 108, 155, and 115 weeks, respectively, for the three patient groups. The authors believe that until results with chemotherapy improve significantly, hormonal therapy is the preferred first-line management of recurrent breast cancer.

Adrenalectomy↗

A randomized trial of adjuvant endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and chemoendocrine therapy for operable breast cancer stratified by estrogen receptors.

Based on estrogen receptor (ER) status and menopausal status, operable breast cancer (International Union Against Cancer [UICC] Stage I, II, and III) patients were randomized for adjuvant endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and chemoendocrine therapy, and the effects on the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared. Adjuvant endocrine therapy was composed of tamoxifen (TAM) 20 mg/day orally for 2 years in postmenopausal patients. In premenopausal patients, oophorectomy (OVEX) was done before TAM administration. In the chemotherapy arm, the patients were given 0.06 mg/kg of body weight of mitomycin C (MMC) intravenously (IV) and then an oral administration of cyclophosphamide (CPA) 100 mg/body orally in an administration of a 3-month period and a 3-month intermission. This 6-month schedule was repeated four times in 2 years. As the chemoendocrine therapy arm, TAM with MMC + CPA chemotherapy was added. The patients were randomized according to ER and menopausal status. Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) cancer patients were randomized to three arms: TAM +/- OVEX, MMC + CPA, or MMC + CPA + TAM. For estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) patients, there were two arms: MMC + CPA, or MMC + TAM. The study started in September 1978, and 692 patients entered until the end of 1984 were evaluated. The median follow-up was about 46 months. Totally, a 9.8% rate (68/692) of recurrence was noted, a 7.5% rate (52/692) of mortality. There were no significant differences in DFS or OS among the treatment arms in ER+ or ER- patients. There was significant differences in adverse effects such as bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal disturbances, cystitis, hair loss between endocrine therapy and chemotherapy or chemoendocrine therapy groups. In this preliminary study, it was concluded that because of less adverse effects of endocrine therapy, it seems rational to select the operable breast cancer patients by the presence or absence of ER, namely, endocrine therapy for ER+ and chemotherapy for ER- cancer patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

The importance of tamoxifen to a cisplatin-containing regimen in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

The combination of dacarbazine (DTIC, 220 mg/m2) and cisplatin (DDP, 25 mg/m2) IV daily for 3 days every 3 weeks, carmustine (BCNU, 150 mg/m2) IV every 6 weeks, and tamoxifen (TAM, 10 mg orally twice daily) produced a 50% objective response rate in patients with metastatic melanoma. Associated with this treatment, there was a high incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). In an effort to reduce this toxicity, this regimen minus TAM was studied, and the results are reported. Twenty of twenty patients are evaluable for response and toxicity. There was one complete response (CR) lasting 5+ months and one partial response (PR) lasting 4+ months for an overall response rate of 10% (95% confidence limits, 1.23% to 31.70%). Two patients exhibited a mixed response and three patients developed disease stabilization lasting 4 to 10 months. Toxicity was similar to the original study except that no patients developed DVT or PE. This statistically significant (Fisher's exact test [two-tail] P = 0.008) decrease in the response rate by comparison with that achieved with the TAM-containing regimen may signal an essential role of TAM in this regimen. TAM may be acting in synergy with cisplatin through its calcium channel-blocking properties. TAM should be included as described in the initial reports, and the patients should be carefully observed for vascular complications.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Randomized trial of adjuvant tamoxifen combined with postoperative radiation therapy or adjuvant chemotherapy in postmenopausal breast cancer.

From 1976 to 1984, 427 postmenopausal women with high-risk breast cancer (pN + or pT greater than 30 mm) were randomized between postoperative radiation therapy (RT), radiation therapy plus tamoxifen (RT-TAM), adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), or chemotherapy plus tamoxifen (CT-TAM). Surgery was a modified radical mastectomy in all cases. The radiation therapy was given with high-voltage techniques and included the chest wall and regional nodes. The dose was 4600 cGy/4 1/2 weeks. Tamoxifen was given at a dose of 40 mg daily for 2 years. The adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of 12 cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) (or chlorambucil, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil [LMF] for patients entered before 1978). At a median follow-up time of 6 1/2 years the recurrence-free survival was significantly better for patients allocated to radiation therapy compared to chemotherapy and for patients allocated to tamoxifen compared to no adjuvant endocrine treatment (P less than 0.01). At 10 years the recurrence-free survival for patients in the RT-TAM, RT, CT-TAM, and CT groups was 63%, 57%, 47%, and 31%, respectively. A significant reduction of treatment failures with tamoxifen was only observed among patients with estrogen receptor-positive tumors. The overall survival difference in favor of patients allocated to radiation therapy or tamoxifen was not significant: the respective survival percentage at 10 years in the RT-TAM, RT, CT-TAM, and CT group was 65%, 62%, 52%, and 50%. The results indicate that postoperative radiation therapy continues to play an important role in the primary management of postmenopausal women with high-risk breast cancer and that the addition of tamoxifen may further improve the results among ER-positive patients.

Aged↗

Randomized adjuvant trial to evaluate the addition of tamoxifen and PSK to chemotherapy in patients with primary breast cancer. 5-Year results from the Nishi-Nippon Group of the Adjuvant Chemoendocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer Organization.

BACKGROUND: A randomized adjuvant trial was conducted from October 1982 to January 1985 to evaluate the addition of tamoxifen (TAM) to combination chemotherapy with perioperative mitomycin C (MMC) and ftorafur (FT) for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors and the addition of PSK, a biologic response modifier, to MMC+FT chemotherapy for patients with ER-negative tumors in operable Stage IIA, IIB, and IIIA cancer. The doses used were 20 mg of oral TAM daily, 600 mg of oral FT daily, and 3 g of oral PSK daily for 2 years. Intravenous MMC (13 mg/m2) was given on the day of operation. METHODS: A total of 967 patients were entered and randomized by stratification based on ER status and staging (1978 International Union Against Cancer [UICC] criteria at the time of trial execution). Of 967 patients, 914 (94.5%) were evaluable. At 5-year follow-up, significant prolonged overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) times were seen with the addition of TAM in patients with ER-positive and Stage IIIA T3N0 cancer (1987 UICC-American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] criteria); however, no significant survival benefit from TAM was seen in patients with ER-positive and Stage IIA T2N1 cancer. There was no significant difference between regimens, with or without PSK, in patients with ER-negative disease. RESULTS: Results of subset analyses suggested a benefit from TAM in postmenopausal patients with ER-positive and Stage IIA T2N1 cancer and a benefit from PSK in patients with node-negative, ER-negative, and Stage IIA T2N1 cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The 5-year results of the current trial showed a survival advantage by the addition of TAM to chemotherapy in patients with ER-positive and Stage IIIA T3N0 cancer.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Effect of all-trans-retinoic acid on the hypercoagulable state of patients with breast cancer.

To evaluate whether all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is able to modulate the hemostatic system in patients with solid tumors, we studied patients with locally advanced breast cancer who were enrolled in a Phase Ib study of ATRA +/- Tamoxifen (Tam). In this study, two groups of 15 patients/each were treated for 21 days before operation with ATRA at three doses (15, 45, or 75 mg/m(2)/day on alternate days) given alone (group 1) or in combination with Tam (group 2). One additional group received Tam alone. Plasma samples were evaluated for hypercoagulation markers (FVIIa, F1+2, TAT, D-dimer), fibrinolysis proteins (t-PA, PAI-1), and coagulation inhibitors (protein C, AT). At baseline, cancer patients had FVIIa, F1+2, TAT, and PAI-1 significantly greater than control subjects. During treatment, in the patients given ATRA alone, hypercoagulation markers appeared unmodified. Instead, subjects given Tam alone had a significant elevation of FVIIa, F1+2, and TAT versus baseline. However, in the ATRA + Tam groups, hypercoagulation markers were decreased compared with Tam alone. These results suggest that in selected conditions, pre-operative ATRA may modulate the hypercoagulable state of breast cancer patients.

Aged↗