Hormone Therapy in Treating Women With Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and meeting one of the following criteria: No prior systemic therapy OR Relapsed more than 12 months after stopping adjuvant tamoxifen (tamoxifen- sensitive) OR Relapsed while receiving adjuvant tamoxifen for more than 12 months (tamoxifen-refractory) OR Disease progression while receiving tamoxifen as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer (tamoxifen-refractory) Evaluable or bidimensionally measurable disease No rapid disease progression requiring chemotherapy Brain metastases allowed if stable for at least 6 months after surgery or radiotherapy, with no increase in corticosteroids Hormone receptor status: Estrogen receptor positive AND/OR Progesterone receptor positive OR Unknown status allowed if over 50 years old
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 24 weeks Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL, transfusion independent Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal PT/PTT no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) ALT/AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN Calcium no greater than 11 mg/dL No hypercalcemia Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use approved nonhormonal contraceptive during and for 3 months after study No known predisposition to thromboembolic disorder At least 5 years since other primary malignancy except: Adequately treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix No serious concurrent systemic disorders incompatible with study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Concurrent hematopoietic growth factor allowed Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No prior hormonal therapy for metastatic breast cancer (except tamoxifen) No concurrent supplemental estrogen or progesterone At least 3 weeks since prior estrogen replacement therapy No other concurrent hormone therapy Radiotherapy: At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 4 weeks since prior use of other investigational agents Concurrent bisphosphonate therapy allowed No other concurrent investigational agent