Is there an association between long-term tamoxifen treatment and the development of carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Mullerian tumor) of the uterus?

• Published in: International journal of gynecological cancer Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 310 - 313
• Main Authors: EVANS, M.J., LANGLOIS, N.E.I., KITCHENER, H.C., MILLER, I.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Suite 500, 5th Floor, 238 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA Elsevier Inc 01.07.1995; Blackwell Science Ins; Blackwell Science Ltd; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Breast cancer; carcinosarcoma; Endometrial cancer; tamoxifen; uterus; carcinosarcoma; tamoxifen; uterus
• ISSN: 1048-891X; 1525-1438; 1525-1438
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-1438.1995.05040310.x

A cluster of five patients with endometrial carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Mullerian tumor) occurred at our center during 1993; four of these had been prescribed long-term tamoxifen for breast carcinoma. Searching the archives for the 9-year period 1983-1992 revealed two further cases of uterine carcinosarcoma occurring in patients prescribed tamoxifen, from a total of 16 cases of this tumor. Five of the six patients diagnosed with carcinosarcoma who had been taking tamoxifen had been maintained on the drug for at least 6 years, while the other had a 3- year history of tamoxifen therapy. From these data we raise the question of an association between long-term tamoxifen treatment and development of endometrial carcinosarcoma, following the dramatic increase in the prescribing of this drug after 1984.