Clinical trial of nafoxidine in adrenalectomized patients with advanced breast cancer

Antiestrogen compounds are relatively new in the treatment of breast cancer. A clinical trial of Nafoxidine therapy is being pursued in our institution. In a selected group of patients with metastatic breast cancer who had, in the past, undergone adrenalectomy, Nafoxidine therapy produced objective tumor regression in six out of ten patients. Of the six patients whose tumors contained demonstrable estrogen receptors, four showed regression (67%), one patient had stable disease, and one showed tumor progression. Of the four patients in whom estrogen receptor estimation was not done, two had, in the past, shown regression after endocrine therapy and they also showed regression of tumor with Nafoxidine therapy. In patients with metastatic breast carcinoma, who have undergone adrenalectomy in the past, a therapeutic trial with Nafoxidine may be worthwhile particularly in patients who have demonstrable estrogen receptor in the tumor of those who have in the past shown regression of tumor after endocrine therapy.