Tamoxifen Does Not Prolong Survival in Liver Cance

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Tamoxifen Does Not Prolong Survival in Liver Cancer Patients



SINGAPORE (Reuters) Nov 30 - An Asia-Pacific study has shown that tamoxifen does not prolong survival in patients with liver cancer, and doctors are being asked to stop prescribing it for such patients. Some liver cancer patients in the region have been given tamoxifen because of the drug's proven success in fighting breast cancer.



The Singapore National Cancer Centre announced here that a study in nine Asia-Pacific countries showed that patients taking the drug for liver cancer — the fourth most common cancer in the region — actually died earlier than those who received placebo.



Dr. Pierce Chow, a consultant surgeon with the Singapore General Hospital, told Reuters Health that "previous studies published by other trial centres had results that were conflicting and inconclusive." The current trial randomized 329 patients in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.



The investigators found that, on average, patients given placebo survived for 2.7 months, while those receiving tamoxifen 60 mg q.d. survived for 2.1 months and those receiving tamoxifen 120 mg q.d. survived for 2.2 months.



Dr. Soo Khee Chee, who heads the National Cancer Centre, said that "the trial showed conclusively that tamoxifen did not benefit patients. Giving tamoxifen to patients in the hope that they can get better is a practice that should be stopped."



The researchers are starting two new trials to find an alternative treatment for liver cancer.