Early effects of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy on serum hormones, proteins and lipids.
Tamoxifen is widely used as an adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. To correctly interpret laboratory test results during tamoxifen treatment, clinicians should be aware of the possible effects of the drug on laboratory tests. This study investigated the effects on serum hormones, proteins, lipids and common biochemistry in seven postmenopausal women with breast cancer during 3 months after initiating the therapy. Statistically significant decreases occurred in serum gonadotropins, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, total protein, prealbumin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, immunoglobin M and total cholesterol whilst significant increases occurred in serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol, parathyroid hormone, aspartate aminotransferase, urate, alpha-1-antitrypsin and ceruloplasmin. The alterations could result from tamoxifen therapy, radiation or changes in lifestyle. All the changes, apart from serum urate, remained within the reference limits. In addition, only serum gonadotropins, SHBG, urate and cholesterol showed clinically significant changes. Alterations in the other laboratory tests are unlikely to disturb diagnoses based on laboratory test results during tamoxifen therapy.
Kailajärvi
M
M
Central Laboratory, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland. marita.kailajarvi@utu.fi
Ahokoski
O
O
Virtanen
A
A
Salminen
E
E
Irjala
K
K
D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D001798:Blood Proteins; D004573:Electrolytes; D004798:Enzymes; D006728:Hormones; D008055:Lipids; D013629:Tamoxifen