Polyamine modification in human breast tumors after short treatment with tamoxifen.
The authors measured estrogen receptors, and polyamine (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) in breast tumors from patients (n = 23) who had received tamoxifen for a few days (5-10) before surgery. Women undergoing mastectomy without any preoperatory treatment were selected as the control group (n = 44). As already reported about in vitro experiments, the treatment resulted in a significant lowering of the spermidine to spermine ratio. Such a modification was larger in the ER positive tumors then in the ER negative ones and it seems to be related to the regression process of the drug-responsive tumors. On the basis of the experimental data the authors suggest the development of a in vivo tamoxifen-sensitivity test.
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011073:Polyamines; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen