> Table 41: Tamoxifen and overall survival in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer
This summary table contains detailed information about research studies. Summary tables offer an informative look at the science behind many breast cancer guidelines and recommendations. However, they should be viewed with some caution. In order to read and interpret research tables successfully, it is important to understand some key concepts. Learn how to read a research table.
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Introduction: Tamoxifen improves overall survival for women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
Results from the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group pooled analysis showed tamoxifen use for five years increased overall survival. Tamoxifen increased survival in women with lymph node-negative tumors and those with lymph node-positive tumors. The benefits of tamoxifen were not limited by a woman’s age or past treatment with chemotherapy.
Learn more about tamoxifen.
Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of different types of studies.
Study selection criteria: Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative pooled analysis.
Pooled Analysis
Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group [1-2]
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15-Year Breast Cancer Survival*
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Percent Surviving—
Tamoxifen
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Percent Surviving—
No Tamoxifen
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Absolute Improvement
in Survival
with Tamoxifen
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Tamoxifen use for 5 years
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Overall
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76%
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67%
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9%†
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10-Year Overall Survival‡
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Percent Surviving—
Tamoxifen
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Percent Surviving—
No Tamoxifen
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Absolute Improvement
in Survival
with Tamoxifen
|
Tamoxifen use for 5 years
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Lymph node negative
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82%
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77%
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5%†
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Lymph node positive
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64%
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52%
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12%†
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15-Year Overall Survival‡
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Percent Surviving—
Tamoxifen
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Percent Surviving—
No Tamoxifen
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Absolute Improvement
in Survival
with Tamoxifen
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Tamoxifen use for 5 years
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Overall
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64%
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56%
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8%†
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* Combined data from 20 randomized clinical trials that together included 21,457 women
† Statistically significant improvement
‡ Combined data from 44 randomized clinical trials that together included 33,209 women
References
- Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group. Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for early breast cancer on recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomized trials. Lancet. 365(9472):1687-717, 2005.
- Davies C, Godwin J, Gray R, et al. for the Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Relevance of breast cancer hormone receptors and other factors to the efficacy of adjuvant tamoxifen: patient-level meta-analysis of randomised trials. Lancet. 378(9793):771-84, 2011.
Updated 01/22/13
