Tamoxifen is useful in the treatment of breast cancer, but its effects in metastatic disease are rarely long term, and development of resistance to the drug is common. In vitro and in vivo data demonstrate anti-neoplastic (anti-proliferative) effects of somatostatin analogues, which may occur via binding to somatostatin receptors on the neoplastic cells, and/or via reductions in insulinlike growth factor-1 bioactivity. Moreover, several lines of evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide enhances the anti-neoplastic effects of anti-oestrogenic agents such as tamoxifen. The anti-oestrogen-somatostatin approach appears to have a favourable long-term toxicity profile. Large-scale clinical trials are currently being planned to investigate the efficacy of combined tamoxifen plus octreotide therapy compared to tamoxifen alone in patients with breast cancer.