Comparison of Tamoxifen and Toremifene as Adjuvant Treatment in Node-negative Postmenopausal Breast Cancer.
- Author:
Se Hwan HAN
1
;
Keun Ho YANG
;
Byung Noe BAE
;
Ki Hwan KIM
;
Hong Joo KIM
;
Young Duck KIM
;
Hong Yong KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea. shwhan@unitel.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Breast cancer;
Side effect;
Tamoxifen;
Toremifene;
Treatment
- MeSH:
Breast Neoplasms*;
Breast*;
Follow-Up Studies;
Hot Flashes;
Humans;
Survival Rate;
Sweat;
Sweating;
Tamoxifen*;
Toremifene*;
Vaginal Discharge;
Weight Gain
- From:Journal of the Korean Surgical Society
2002;63(4):283-286
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To evaluate the differences in therapeutic efficacy and toxicity profiles between adjuvant toremifene and tamoxifene in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. METHODS: Toremifene 40 mg (n=115) and tamoxifen 20 mg (n =116) were administered daily for more than 2 years after curative surgery for lymph node-negative breast cancer. Toxicity profiles were compared between the two groups and the patient survival rate was also analyzed. RESULTS: Sweating and hot flashes were the most common symptoms in the two groups (toremifene vs. tamoxifen= 47.8% vs. 49.1%). Increase of vaginal discharge (39.1% vs. 36.2%) and weight gain (21.7% vs. 24.1%) were the next following adverse effects. There was no significant difference in adverse effect between the two groups. During the median follow-up period of 25 months (range: 9~38 months), five (4.3%) and four (3.3%) patients treated by toremifene and tamoxifen, respectively, had recurrent disease. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcome and adverse effect profiles of toremifene were similar to those of tamoxifen. Toremifene at 40 mg/day seems to be as safe and effective as tamoxifen at 20 mg/day in the treatment of postmenopausal, node-negative, breast cancer. However, a longer follow-up study is needed to verify this.
