Tamoxifen in oesophageal cancer (Version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study of tamoxifen in oesophageal cancer
IRAS ID
163909
Contact name
Raheela Khan
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Cancer of the gullet (oesophagus) is a lethal disease in which only 15% of patients survive 5 years once diagnosed. It is more common in men than women, and men appear to have a worse prognosis. One suggestion for this gender difference is the sex hormone oestrogen, which exerts its effect via oestrogen receptors. The role of oestrogen in breast cancer is well described, and anti-oestrogen medication such as tamoxifen, which blocks oestrogen receptors are in widespread and effective use. The role of oestrogen receptors in oesophageal cancer however, is less well defined. Work conducted at our academic department, as well as another research group in Australia showed that anti-oestrogens including tamoxifen, reduce oesophageal cancer cell growth in the laboratory. To date, no studies have assessed the effect of tamoxifen therapy on oesophageal cancer growth in humans. We propose a study to determine the effect of tamoxifen in patients with oesophageal cancer who aren’t undergoing surgery or chemotherapy. Patients will receive tamoxifen tablets daily for 4 weeks after which time a biopsy (sample of cancer tissue) will be taken at gastroscopy (a flexible camera that is passed into the mouth through the gullet into the stomach). The biopsy will be compared with the biopsy taken at the time of diagnosis to determine if tamoxifen has had any effect on cancer cell growth. If this study shows that tamoxifen does slow cancer cell growth this could lead to a larger study of patients with oesophageal cancer taking tamoxifen for a longer time period to determine if there is any clinical benefit.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EM/0225
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion