Toremifene Citrate and Hepatotoxicity

• Generic Name: toremifene
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Fareston

Palliative treatment of metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women with estrogen-receptor positive or estrogen-receptor unknown tumors (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use). Not recommended for treatment of estrogen-receptor negative breast tumors. Similar efficacy and toxicity as tamoxifen. Not known whether toremifene offers a therapeutic advantage over tamoxifen for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in eligible patients.

Under investigation for use as adjuvant therapy for early-stage breast cancer in node-positive postmenopausal women. Results from trials to date suggest similar efficacy and toxicity as tamoxifen.

Efficacy in treatment of advanced breast cancer in men not demonstrated.

Because of demonstrated cross-resistance with tamoxifen, usefulness of toremifene as second-line endocrine therapy for treatment of metastatic breast cancer refractory to tamoxifen appears to be limited.

Under investigation as a preventive agent for prostate cancer in men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and no evidence of prostate cancer.