Determination of tamoxifen and its metabolites in the endometrial tissue of long-term treated women.
Concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites were analysed in the endometrium of 23 post-menopausal asymptomatic breast cancer patients who were on chronic tamoxifen therapy. Small endometrial samples were collected during diagnostic hysteroscopy. Analysis of both serum and tissue for these compounds was performed by mass spectrometry. Tamoxifen and its metabolites were far more concentrated in the endometrium than in serum; tamoxifen was also significantly more concentrated in endometrium with hyperplastic changes than in atrophic endometrium. Endometrial polyps of an additional 9 women showed a trend to a lesser concentration of compounds. Increased concentration of tamoxifen compounds could possibly be explained by the avidity of these compounds for oestrogen receptors (ER).
Giorda
G
G
Gynecological Oncology Department, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Via Pedemontana Occidentale, I-33081, Aviano, Italy. ggiorda@ets.it
Franceschi
L
L
Crivellari
D
D
Magri
M D
MD
Veronesi
A
A
Scarabelli
C
C
Furlanut
M
M
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen