ENDOMETRIAL CANCER AND TAMOXIFEN - DISCUS SION BASED ON A CASE SERIES

Tamoxifen is widely used nowadays in the management of breast cancer, having established its efficacy in this indication, especially for pos tmenopausal patients with ER-positive breast tumours. However, tamoxif en has recently been recognized as carcinogenic for the human endometr ium, probably with an effect of duration of treatment. Moreover, this drug may be associated with the occurrence of endometrial cancers of u nusual histological types and/or of a move aggressive nature. We descr ibe a case series of 11 patients who developed such cancers after havi ng previously received tamoxifen for breast cancer. Several assumption s on the mechanisms underlying the attributed carcinogenic properties of tamoxifen, for the endometrium and potentially for other organs, ar e discussed on the basis of current knowledge.