Effects of tamoxifen therapy on lipid and lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal patients with node-negative breast cancer.
We conducted a 2-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled toxicity trial of therapy with tamoxifen (10 mg twice a day) in 140 postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer and histologically negative axillary lymph nodes. These women had been treated with surgery with or without radiotherapy. At a 3-month evaluation, tamoxifen-treated women showed a significant decrease in fasting plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which persisted at 6- and 12-month evaluations. During the first 12 months, plasma triglyceride levels increased; small but significant decreases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were observed in tamoxifen-treated women, but ratios of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol and of LDL to HDL cholesterol changed favorably. While data relating lipid/lipoprotein profiles and cardiovascular disease are limited in women, current evidence suggests that total cholesterol and possibly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are risk factors. We conclude that during the first 12 months of treatment, tamoxifen exerts a favorable effect on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer.
Cancer Prevention Program, University of Wisconsin Clinical Center, Madison.
R R
RR
Love
P A
PA
Newcomb
D A
DA
Wiebe
T S
TS
Surawicz
V C
VC
Jordan
P P
PP
Carbone
D L
DL
DeMets
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D013629:Tamoxifen; D002784:Cholesterol