Ovarian cysts during tamoxifen use may affect the prognostic markers of premenopausal breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Only a few studies have suggested the association between ovarian cysts and serum estrogen levels during tamoxifen use. However, increased estrogen levels with ovarian cysts would affect the prognosis of breast cancer; this association has not yet been studied. We aimed to investigate the association between ovarian cysts and prognostic markers in premenopausal breast cancer patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 65 premenopausal breast cancer patients who underwent tamoxifen treatment was performed. Serum hormone levels were measured either specifically between cycle days 2 and 5 in menstruating patients or at any time in amenorrheic participants.


RESULTS
The study population consisted of premenopausal patients with (n = 23) and without ovarian cysts (n = 42). Serum estradiol (E(2)) levels and tumor markers were not statistically different based on ovarian cyst status. In the subgroup analysis, serum E(2) levels were significantly higher in menstruating women with ovarian cysts, and E(2) levels were positively correlated with serum cancer antigen 15-3 and insulin-like growth factor-1 in these women.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian cysts during tamoxifen use may affect the markers associated with the clinical course of premenopausal breast cancer.
Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Wonshik
W
Han
Hoon
H
Kim
Seung-Yup
SY
Ku
Seok Hyun
SH
Kim
Young Min
YM
Choi
Jung Gu
JG
Kim
Shin Yong
SY
Moon
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C515497:IGFBP3 protein, human; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018396:Mucin-1; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I