RANDOMIZED COMPARISON OF 5 YEARS OF ADJUVANT TAMOXIFEN WITH CONTINUOUS THERAPY FOR OPERABLE BREAST-CANCER

In 1985 a second randomisation was initiated for women in the treatmen t arm of the Scottish Tamoxifen Trial either to stop tamoxifen at 5 ye ars or to continue indefinitely. A preliminary analysis of outcome in 342 patients al a median follow-up of 6 years suggests that a worthwhi le gain in disease control from continuing adjuvant tamoxifen beyond 5 years is unlikely. [Hazard ratio for events (relapse or death without relapse) is 1.27, 95% CI=0.87-1.85.] There is a suggestion that thera py for longer than 5 years may increase the risk of endometrial carcin oma (P = 0.064).