Tamoxifen: is it useful in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma?

PURPOSEWe have attempted to review the data regarding the activity of tamoxifen (TAM) to clarify the role of this agent in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.METHODSUsing the Melvyl Medline system, we identified recent reports describing the results of clinical trials that used TAM either as a single agent or in combination with other cytotoxic agents. Additionally, we reviewed the abstracts from the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in May 1993.RESULTSNumerous articles have reported an overall response rate of 47% (95% confidence limit, 39.25 to 54.75) when patients with metastatic melanoma are treated with the combination of dacarbazine (DTIC), carmustine (BCNU), cisplatin (DDP), and TAM (DBDT). Additionally, recent laboratory studies have reported that synergism between TAM and DDP is at least partially responsible for the success of this regimen.CONCLUSIONWhile TAM as a single agent is minimally active in treating patients with metastatic melanoma, when it is comb...