MODIFICATION OF GROWTH OF DESMOID TUMORS IN TISSUE-CULTURE BY ANTIESTROGENIC SUBSTANCES - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Background: Tamoxifen and toremifene have been used in patients with a dvanced desmoid rumours with response rates of 51%. Method: We develop ed an experimental model of desmoid tumour cells in tissue culture to study their effect. Four cell lines were established in tissue culture . All native and corresponding cultured rumours were oestrogen recepto r negative. Tumour was from a 22 year old with familial adenomatous po lyposis (FAP) and recurrent abdominal wall desmoid rumours. She remain s disease free on tamoxifen 4 years following surgery. Both her mother and sister also have shown regression of their FAP-associated desmoid rumours at the menopause and on tamoxifen, respectively. We assessed the effect of tamoxifen on desmoid rumours in tissue culture at 780 ng /mL. The results were assessed by cell density counting. Results: Tumo urs 1 and 2 have responded with an approximately 50% reduction in grow th to tamoxifen at 780 ng/mL. Conclusions: This apparent growth inhibi tory effect of tamoxifen on Two desmoid tumour cell lines appears to b e independent of oestrogen and correlates with the in vivo effect of t amoxifen on three desmoid rumours in an FAP family.