Tamoxifen as a possible chemotherapeutic agent in endometrial adenocarcinoma

Hormone-dependent endometrial adenocarcinomas are responsive to Tamoxifen at a daily oral dosage ranging from 40 to 60 mg. This responsiveness is manifested by marked histochemical and histological transformations of the adenocarcinoma, leading finally to atrophy and disappearance of the tumor. Second-line Tamoxifen treatment achieves greater than 50% objective remission rate in patients with persisting, recurrent, or metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma previously treated with medroxyprogesterone. A close relationship is observed between the tumor responsiveness to medroxyprogesterone and to Tamoxifen. Minor possible side-effects are rarely observed under the Tamoxifen regimen. The direct mechanism of action for Tamoxifen on the endometrial adenocarcinoma is evident, while an indirect action seems rather unlikely.