Combined Tamoxifen and Ovarian Ablation (by Lhrh Agonist) beats ovarian ablation alone in young women presenting with advanced breast cancer

Dr Kiljn and colleagues from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer recently reported an overview of four trials examining the combination of tamoxifen and ovarian 'functional ablation' by LHRH agonist versus LHRH agonist therapy alone as endocrine therapy for premenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer. The response rate and survival advantage to the patients treated with the combination therapy was highly significantly better than those treated with LHRH agonist therapy alone. This will become standard therapy in this group of patients, at least for Oestrogen Receptor positive tumours; (J Clin Oncol 19: 343-53; 2001).