Effect of tamoxifen on serum IL-18, vascular endothelial growth factor and nitric oxide activities in breast carcinoma patients.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multi-functional cytokine that has been suggested to be a major angiogenic factor in breast cancer. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent biological molecule that participates in the multi-step process of carcinogenesis. Interleukin (IL)-18 has been shown to have potent anti-tumour effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of tamoxifen therapy on serum VEGF, NO and IL-18 activity in breast cancer patients. Serum levels of VEGF, nitrate + nitrite and IL-18 were measured in 34 postmenopausal breast cancer patients before and 3 months after the tamoxifen therapy. Both serum VEGF and IL-18 levels decreased after tamoxifen therapy (P = 0.051, P < 0.05, respectively). Serum VEGF levels increased in patients with endometrial thickness, while patients without endometrial thickness had a significant reduction in serum VEGF levels after therapy (P < 0.05). Serum nitrate + nitrite levels increased after the therapy, but this was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A decrease in serum VEGF levels with tamoxifen therapy may be a reflection of reduced angiogenic activity in patients without endometrial thickness. The negative effect of tamoxifen therapy on IL-18, which is known to have a potent antitumour activity, may be related to the decreased tumour growth by induction of NO and reduction of VEGF activity as a feedback mechanism.
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. ugurcos@hotmail.com
U
U
Coskun
N
N
Gunel
B
B
Sancak
E
E
Onuk
M
M
Bayram
A
A
Cihan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020382:Interleukin-18; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D013629:Tamoxifen; D009569:Nitric Oxide