SEX-HORMONES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH BREAST-CANCER ON TAMOXIFEN

In 42, postmenopausal women with breast cancer aged 48-85 (mean age 62 .4) years, the blood sex hormone levels were measured before and after 6 months of tamoxifen administration (20 mg daily). Follicle-stimulat ing hormone and luteinizing hormone levels decreased after tamoxifen a dministration (p < 0.001), but remained in the postmenopausal range, o estradiol levels increased (p < 0.05), sex hormone binding globulin le vels increased (p < 0.001), testosterone levels remained stable (p > 0 .1), free testosterone levels decreased (p < 0.001), Delta(4)-androste nedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate le vels remained unchanged (p > 0.1), and basal prolactin levels and thei r response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone injection decreased signi ficantly (p < 0.001) after tamoxifen therapy, It is concluded that tam oxifen has many and diverse effects on sex hormone levels, and its adv erse effects do not affect the biological status of the patient, excep t perhaps for oestradiol, that increases in some cases, whose possible effect must be studied.