Breast cancer; role of tamoxifen as selective estrogen receptor modulator in preventing bone loss, reducing serum cholesterol and activity of liver enzymes in patients with different hormonal states

ABSTRACT

To assess the alterations of serum cholesterol, liver and bone enzyme with breast cancer patient taking tamoxifen with different hormaonal status. Experimental study. Period April to September, 2006 [24 weeks]. The study was carried out on serum samples that were obtained from out department of Oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital of Lahore. The study included 68 [serum specimen] of breast cancer patients. These patients were different stages of menstruation [postmenarche, perimenopausal and post menopausal]. Clinical history and provisional diagnosis were also noted. These patients [68 women] with breast cancer were divided into three major groups; [1] Postmenarche patient, [2] perimenopausal [3] post menopausal status. It is observed that the level of serum cholesterol, ALT and serum alkaline phosphatase in post menarche women were within the normal limits. While women in perimenopausal and post menopausal age groups, had increased level of serum cholesterol [P<0.01] and alkaline phosphatase. Level of ALT however was observed on border line. It is therefore concluded that tamoxifen either prevents or shows no effect on the bone and liver function as well as on cholesterol in postmenarche patients. While in case of perimenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients who received tamoxifen, it may induce increase in cholesterol level and bone resorption, which may be due to decreased level of estrogen. However, further research is needed to reach better conclusions: