A comparison of two and three years of adjuvant tamoxifen

The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether the administration of a third year of tamoxifen, following 2 years of L-phenylalanine mustard, 5-fluorouracil and tamoxifen, would benefit women with primary breast cancer. The data at 5 years indicate that in patients receiving a third year of tamoxifen treatment, a significant prolongation in disease-free survival occurs, when compared to patients who receive only 2 years of tamoxifen. This benefit is limited to patients older than 49 years of age, and is not apparent in women younger than 50. It is concluded that an additional year of tamoxifen therapy, following the completion of chemotherapy prolongs both disease-free survival and actual survival in node-positive, 'tamoxifen-responsive' patients.