Tamoxifen in advanced male breast cancer

A 47-year-old man with metastatic carcinoma of the breast was found to have positive estrogen and progesterone receptors but refused castration or estrogens. After failing on combination chemotherapy he was started on tamoxifen, which resulted in a partial response lasting seven months. He relapsed in bone and then consented to orchiectomy, which resulted in further clinical improvement. Thus, the tamoxifen did not preclude further hormonal therapy. This case, added to others reported, suggests that tamoxifen may be useful in the treatment of advanced male breast cancer. Further studies are needed to determine the level of activity, when to use the drug, and the predictive value of hormone receptors.