toremifene and Melanoma

The EORTC Melanoma Cooperative Group conducted a phase II trial (study number 18891) to study the effect of Toremifene in 45 patients with advanced, metastatic melanoma. Male and female patients, median age 61 (range 23-88) years received a mean total dose of 11 g (4.3-62.6) orally for at least 6 weeks. No objective remissions were seen. Four patients (3 women and 1 man; 9%) experienced 3-6 months' disease stabilization. The toxicity of the drug, given at a dose of 240 mg daily, was negligible. Because of the minimal side-effects, Toremifene may be recommended for patients who have only a small number of slowly growing metastases, in particular to soft tissue and lung.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Melanoma; Menopause; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Skin Neoplasms; Soft Tissue Neoplasms; Toremifene

The distribution of topically applied toremifene (0.5-1 mg/day for 5 days) in the ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced Monodelphis domestica opossum melanoma model was examined. The mean concentration of toremifene measured in the skin was 1200 nmol/g, or > 500 times that detected in any other tissues (blood, brain, liver, testicles, heart, uterus, eyes). In plasma, toremifene could be detected in only one animal of six (0.04 nmol/ml). Intraperitoneal administration of 0.5 mg toremifene daily for 5 days in three female animals resulted in a mean uterus concentration of 22.9 nmol/g, or 400-fold that achieved by topical administration of 0.5 mg/day in three other female Monodelphis (0.05 nmol/g). The cytostatic effect of toremifene was studied in three human melanoma cell lines and three experimental cell lines derived from UVB-induced melanocytic nevi in M. domestica. Toremifene had a cytostatic effect on all cell lines (50% growth-inhibitory concentrations, 5.8-9.6 microM). Topical toremifene administration yields high local concentration with minimal systemic distribution. In addition, toremifene has a cytostatic effect at achievable concentrations in a variety of melanomatous cell lines.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Animals; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Humans; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Male; Melanoma; Melanoma, Experimental; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Opossums; Skin; Skin Neoplasms; Tissue Distribution; Toremifene; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ultraviolet Rays