The purpose of this study was to determine the response in patients with recurrent, chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer to a combination of the LHRH-analog goserelin and tamoxifen.
Patients and methods: Twenty-five patients with recurrent, chemotherapy resistant ovarian cancer received a combination of goserelin and tamoxifen until clinical or serological evidence of progression as measured by serum CA-125 levels. Suppression of LH, FSH and prolactin levels in this group were compared with a second group of ten patients treated with decapeptyl for the same indication.
Results: The combination was well tolerated. The median progression free survival amounted to five (range 2-96+) months and overall survival to eight (range 3-96+) months. One of the responding patients is still alive without progression at 8 years. With this combination the median levels of LH and FSH were markedly suppressed, to respectively 2.6% and 3.7% of baseline values. With decapeptyl the LH levels were also suppressed, but the resulting FSH levels were significantly higher. PA combination of goserelin and tamoxifen in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer can not be recommended as standard therapy, but may result in long-term survival in individual patients.