title: Tamoxifen alters the plasma concentration of molecules associated with cardiovascular risk in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on blood markers that are associated with cardiovascular risk, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo-A), and apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo-B), in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a period of 12 months, we followed 60 women with breast cancer. The women were divided into the following groups: a group that received only chemotherapy (n = 23), a group that received chemotherapy plus tamoxifen (n = 21), and a group that received only tamoxifen (n = 16). Plasma CRP levels were assessed at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months, and Apo-A and Apo B levels as well as the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio were assessed at 0 and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found increases in the plasma concentration of CRP in the chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy plus tamoxifen groups after 3 and 6 months of treatment (before the introduction of tamoxifen). However, after 12 months of treatment, women who used tamoxifen (the chemotherapy plus tamoxifen and tamoxifen alone groups) showed a significant reduction in CRP and Apo-B levels and a decrease in the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio. A significant increase in serum Apo-A levels was observed in the group receiving chemotherapy alone as a treatment for breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of tamoxifen after chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer significantly reduces the levels of cardiovascular disease risk markers (CRP, Apo-B, and the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio).
authors.affiliation: Department Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, UFES, Avenida Marechal Campos 1468, 29042-755 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walckiria G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Fabrício B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Mariana V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Borgo
authors.forename: Nazaré S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bissoli
authors.forename: Sonia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gouvêa
authors.forename: Gláucia R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Abreu
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013629:Tamoxifen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein