DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more

Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate) - Summary

 

-- advertisement --

BOXED WARNING

For Women with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) and Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer: Serious and life-threatening events associated with NOLVADEX in the risk reduction setting (women at high risk for cancer and women with DCIS) include uterine malignancies, stroke and pulmonary embolism. Incidence rates for these events were estimated from the NSABP P-1 trial (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY-Clinical Studies − Reduction in Breast Cancer Incidence In High Risk Women). Uterine malignancies consist of both endometrial adenocarcinoma (incidence rate per 1,000 women-years of 2.20 for NOLVADEX vs 0.71 for placebo) and uterine sarcoma (incidence rate per 1,000 women-years of 0.17 for NOLVADEX vs 0.04 for placebo)*. For stroke, the incidence rate per 1,000 women-years was 1.43 for NOLVADEX vs 1.00 for placebo**. For pulmonary embolism, the incidence rate per 1,000 women-years was 0.75 for NOLVADEX versus 0.25 for placebo**.

Some of the strokes, pulmonary emboli, and uterine malignancies were fatal.

Health care providers should discuss the potential benefits versus the potential risks of these serious events with women at high risk of breast cancer and women with DCIS considering NOLVADEX to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.

The benefits of NOLVADEX outweigh its risks in women already diagnosed with breast cancer.

*Updated long-term follow-up data (median length of follow-up is 6.9 years) from NSABP P-1 study. See WARNINGS: Effects on the Uterus-Endometrial Cancer and Uterine Sarcoma.

**See Table 3 under CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY-Clinical Studies

 

NOLVADEX SUMMARY

NOLVADEX
(Tamoxifen Citrate)
TABLETS

NOLVADEX® (tamoxifen citrate) Tablets, a nonsteroidal antiestrogen, are for oral administration. NOLVADEX Tablets are available as.

NOLVADEX® is indicated for the following:

Metastatic Breast Cancer:

NOLVADEX is effective in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in women and men. In premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer, NOLVADEX is an alternative to oophorectomy or ovarian irradiation. Available evidence indicates that patients whose tumors are estrogen receptor positive are more likely to benefit from NOLVADEX therapy.

Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer:

NOLVADEX is indicated for the treatment of node-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women following total mastectomy or segmental mastectomy, axillary dissection, and breast irradiation. In some NOLVADEX adjuvant studies, most of the benefit to date has been in the subgroup with four or more positive axillary nodes.

NOLVADEX is indicated for the treatment of axillary node-negative breast cancer in women following total mastectomy or segmental mastectomy, axillary dissection, and breast irradiation.

The estrogen and progesterone receptor values may help to predict whether adjuvant NOLVADEX therapy is likely to be beneficial.

NOLVADEX reduces the occurrence of contralateral breast cancer in patients receiving adjuvant NOLVADEX therapy for breast cancer.

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS):

In women with DCIS, following breast surgery and radiation, NOLVADEX is indicated to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer (see BOXED WARNING at the beginning of the label). The decision regarding therapy with NOLVADEX for the reduction in breast cancer incidence should be based upon an individual assessment of the benefits and risks of NOLVADEX therapy.

Current data from clinical trials support five years of adjuvant NOLVADEX therapy for patients with breast cancer.

Reduction in Breast Cancer Incidence in High Risk Women:

NOLVADEX is indicated to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in women at high risk for breast cancer. This effect was shown in a study of 5 years planned duration with a median follow-up of 4.2 years. Twenty-five percent of the participants received drug for 5 years. The longer-term effects are not known. In this study, there was no impact of tamoxifen on overall or breast cancer-related mortality (see BOXED WARNING at the beginning of the label).

NOLVADEX is indicated only for high-risk women. “High risk” is defined as women at least 35 years of age with a 5-year predicted risk of breast cancer ≥ 1.67%, as calculated by the Gail Model.

Examples of combinations of factors predicting a 5-year risk ≥ 1.67% are:

Age 35 or older and any of the following combination of factors:

•One first degree relative with a history of breast cancer, 2 or more benign biopsies, and a history of a breast biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia; or

•At least 2 first degree relatives with a history of breast cancer, and a personal history of at least one breast biopsy; or

•LCIS

Age 40 or older and any of the following combination of factors:

•One first degree relative with a history of breast cancer, 2 or more benign biopsies, age at first live birth 25 or older, and age at menarche 11 or younger; or

•At least 2 first degree relatives with a history of breast cancer, and age at first live birth 19 or younger; or

•One first degree relative with a history of breast cancer, and a personal history of a breast biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia.

Age 45 or older and any of the following combination of factors:

•At least 2 first degree relatives with a history of breast cancer and age at first live birth 24 or younger; or

•One first degree relative with a history of breast cancer with a personal history of a benign breast biopsy, age at menarche 11 or less and age at first live birth 20 or more.

Age 50 or older and any of the following combination of factors:

•At least 2 first degree relatives with a history of breast cancer; or

•History of one breast biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia, and age at first live birth 30 or older and age at menarche 11 or less; or

•History of at least two breast biopsies with a history of atypical hyperplasia, and age at first live birth 30 or more.

Age 55 or older and any of the following combination of factors:

•One first degree relative with a history of breast cancer with a personal history of a benign breast biopsy, and age at menarche 11 or less; or

•History of at least 2 breast biopsies with a history of atypical hyperplasia, and age at first live birth 20 or older.

Age 60 or older and:

•5-year predicted risk of breast cancer ≥ 1.67%, as calculated by the Gail Model.

For women whose risk factors are not described in the above examples, the Gail Model is necessary to estimate absolute breast cancer risk. Health Care Professionals can obtain a Gail Model Risk Assessment Tool by dialing 1-800-544-2007.

There are insufficient data available regarding the effect of NOLVADEX on breast cancer incidence in women with inherited mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2) to be able to make specific recommendations on the effectiveness of NOLVADEX in these patients.

After an assessment of the risk of developing breast cancer, the decision regarding therapy with NOLVADEX for the reduction in breast cancer incidence should be based upon an individual assessment of the benefits and risks of NOLVADEX therapy. In the NSABP P-1 trial, NOLVADEX treatment lowered the risk of developing breast cancer during the follow-up period of the trial, but did not eliminate breast cancer risk (See Table 3 in CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY).

NOLVADEX NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Nolvadex (Tamoxifen)

New Molecule Discovery Shows Promise Against Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancers
Source: MedicineNet tamoxifen Specialty [2008.06.17]

Tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention of little benefit
Source: The Doctors Lounge - Oncology

Joint Symptoms More Likely For Some Breast Cancer Patients
Source: Endocrinology News From Medical News Today [2008.08.15]

more>>

Published Studies Related to Nolvadex (Tamoxifen)

Meta-analysis of trials comparing anastrozole and tamoxifen for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. [2008.07.29]

Serum TIMP-1 and response to the aromatase inhibitor letrozole versus tamoxifen in metastatic breast cancer. [2008.06.01]

Histopathological assessment of anastrozole and tamoxifen as preoperative (neoadjuvant) treatment in postmenopausal Japanese women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in the PROACT trial. [2008.06]

HER2 status in hormone receptor positive premenopausal primary breast cancer adds prognostic, but not tamoxifen treatment predictive, information. [2008.05]

Late extended adjuvant treatment with letrozole improves outcome in women with early-stage breast cancer who complete 5 years of tamoxifen. [2008.04.20]

more>>

Clinical Trials Related to Nolvadex (Tamoxifen)

Phase II Metastatic ER+/PgR+ Nolvadex +/- Iressa Study [Completed]

ITA - Clinical Study Comparing ARIMIDEXâ„¢ With NOLVADEXâ„¢ in Women With Breast Cancer Treated With NOLVADEX for at Least 2 Years [Active, not recruiting]

Casodex - Nolvadex Combination [Completed]

Effectiveness of Combination of Arimidex and Nolvadex in Adjuvant Therapy of Breast Carcinoma in Postmenopausal Women. [Active, not recruiting]

A Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Tolerability of Faslodex With Nolvadex in Postmenopausal Women With Advanced Breast Cancer [Completed]

more>>

Page last updated: 2008-08-15

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross

We comply with
HONcode standard.
Verify here.
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2008