Inhibition of tamoxifen's therapeutic benefit by tangeretin in mammary cancer.
Tangeretin, a molecule present in citrus fruits and in certain 'natural' menopausal medications, is an effective tumour growth and invasion inhibitor in vitro of human MCF 7/6 breast cancer cells. However, when added to the drinking water of MCF 7/6 tumour-bearing mice it neutralises the beneficial tumour-suppressing effect of tamoxifen. Tangeretin reduces the number of natural killer cells. This may explain why the beneficial suppressive effect of tangeretin on MCF 7/6 cell proliferation in vitro is completely counteracted in vivo.
Depypere
H T
HT
Department of Gynaecological Oncology, University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. hermann.depypere@rug.ac.be
Bracke
M E
ME
Boterberg
T
T
Mareel
M M
MM
Nuytinck
M
M
Vennekens
K
K
Serreyn
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D047309:Flavones; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018565:Food-Drug Interactions; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047309:Flavones; D005419:Flavonoids; D013629:Tamoxifen; C059006:tangeretin