Effect of tamoxifen on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Adjuvant tamoxifen therapy is given to large and increasing numbers of women with early-stage breast cancer. The effects of this drug on plasma lipids and lipoprotein profiles are important, because cardiovascular disease also develops over time in a large percentage of tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal women. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles in postmenopausal Indian women who were disease-free after primary treatment for breast cancer.


METHODS
A short-term evaluation of 6 months of tamoxifen therapy (10 mg twice a day) in 45 postmenopausal women was conducted. The plasma lipids and lipoprotein levels were evaluated before and after 3 and 6 months of tamoxifen treatment.


RESULTS
At 3 and 6 months' evaluation, patients receiving tamoxifen showed significantly decreased levels of total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.001 for each) and increased levels of plasma triglycerides, free fatty acids, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that tamoxifen therapy benefits postmenopausal patients with breast cancer, with likely reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Thangaraju
M
M
Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Madras, India.
Kumar
K
K
Gandhirajan
R
R
Sachdanandam
P
P
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D044465:White People
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D013629:Tamoxifen; D002784:Cholesterol