Effect of tamoxifin on lymphocytes proliferation in patients with breast cancer: cytogenic analysis

ABSTRACT

Hormonal agents such as tamoxifen [TAM] and medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA] are used widely in the treatment of breast cancer. In this context, it is noteworthy to note that there is now much experimental and clinical evidence suggesting that sex hormones can influence immune mechanisms strongly Study the effect of tamoxifin on peripheral blood lymphocytes proliferation in breast cancer patients. Seventy-three patients with breast tumor were included in this study. Sixty-two with malignant breast cancer and 11 with benign breast tumor.The malignant breast tumor Intraductal carcinoma [IDC] [8 patients], Lobular carcinoma [LC] [5], and infiltrative ductal carcinoma [49] which in turn divided into 11 with Well differentiated ductal carcinoma [WDC], 12 patients with moderately differentiated ductal carcinoma [MDC], 26 patients with Poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma [PDC]. All cases were admitted to Al-Yannouk teaching Hospital, Saddam Medical City, during Dec 1999-Jan 2001. The percentage of estrogen receptor positive patients[ER] recorded 3 7.0%, while progesterone receptor[PR] positive patients were 51.6%. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured with different concentrations of tamoxifm and were assayed for proliferation using cytogenic analysis assay. Results recorded that there were a clear reduction in blastogenic index and mitotic index, P>0.05. Both concentrations [0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml] of tamoxifen showed clear reduction in BI and Ml values. TAM effect both ER[+] and ER[-] patient in slight differences and in both concentrations