PURPOSE: Randomized studies on tamoxifen treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) produced conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tamoxifen administration in improving overall survival of patients with advanced HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 420 patients with HCC who were not suitable for surgery or local treatment were randomly assigned between April 1995 and May 2000: 210 in the control group and 210 in thetamoxifen group (20 mg/d orally). Patients with WHO performance status greater than 2, belonging to Child-Pugh class C, or with serum creatinine greater than 130 mumol/L were not eligible. RESULTS: Tolerance was good and the main reported adverse effects were thrombophlebitis (three patients), nausea (two patients), and hot flushes (three patients). Outcome did not differ between the two treatment arms: estimated median survival was 4.8 and 4.0 months in the tamoxifen and in the control groups, respectively (P = .25). Univariate analysis showed significant association of survival with age, Okuda stage, WHO performance status, Child-Pugh class, intrahepatic tumor stage, alpha-fetoprotein serum concentration, and presence of extrahepatic spread, portal vein thrombosis, hepatomegaly, or hepatalgia. In a Cox proportional hazards model we found a significant beneficial effect of tamoxifen on survival in patients belonging to Okuda I or II stages. CONCLUSION: In this large study, tamoxifen did not improve the survival of patients with advanced HCC, but there is a suggestion that patients without major hepatic insufficiency seem to have some survival benefit. New trials involving this specific population are warranted.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: Randomized studies on tamoxifen treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) produced conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tamoxifen administration in improving overall survival of patients with advanced HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 420 patients with HCC who were not suitable for surgery or local treatment were randomly assigned between April 1995 and May 2000: 210 in the control group and 210 in the tamoxifen group (20 mg/d orally). Patients with WHO performance status greater than 2, belonging to Child-Pugh class C, or with serum creatinine greater than 130 mumol/L were not eligible. RESULTS: Tolerance was good and the main reported adverse effects were thrombophlebitis (three patients), nausea (two patients), and hot flushes (three patients). Outcome did not differ between the two treatment arms: estimated median survival was 4.8 and 4.0 months in the tamoxifen and in the control groups, respectively (P = .25). Univariate analysis showed significant association of survival with age, Okuda stage, WHO performance status, Child-Pugh class, intrahepatic tumor stage, alpha-fetoprotein serum concentration, and presence of extrahepatic spread, portal vein thrombosis, hepatomegaly, or hepatalgia. In a Cox proportional hazards model we found a significant beneficial effect of tamoxifen on survival in patients belonging to Okuda I or II stages. CONCLUSION: In this large study, tamoxifen did not improve the survival of patients with advanced HCC, but there is a suggestion that patients without major hepatic insufficiency seem to have some survival benefit. New trials involving this specific population are warranted.
Authors: Christian Müller; Maximilian Schöniger-Hekele; Rüdiger Schernthaner; Barbara Renner; Markus Peck-Radosavljevic; Andrea Brichta; Fritz Wrba; Martin Posch; Peter Bauer; Peter Ferenci; Alfred Gangl Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2008 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Franck Bonnetain; Xavier Paoletti; Sandra Collette; Michel Doffoel; Olivia Bouché; Jean Luc Raoul; Philippe Rougier; Fadil Masskouri; Jean Claude Barbare; Laurent Bedenne Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2008-07-10 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Kimberly B Higginbotham; Richard Lozano; Thomas Brown; Yehuda Z Patt; Takashi Arima; James L Abbruzzese; Melanie B Thomas Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2008-05-27 Impact factor: 4.553