Comparison of Tamoxifen and Toremifene as Adjuvant Treatment in Node-negative Postmenopausal Breast Cancer

Han, Se Hwan; Yang, Keun Ho; Bae, Byung Noe; Kim, Ki Hwan; Kim, Hong Joo; Kim, Young Duck; Kim, Hong Yong

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.