Tamoxifen and partial oestrogen agonism in postmenopausal women

Age Ageing. 1991 Jan;20(1):52-4. doi: 10.1093/ageing/20.1.52.

Abstract

The effect of tamoxifen on the vaginal mucosa and on serum oestrone, oestradiol and gonadotrophin concentrations was investigated in a group of nine postmenopausal women with non-metastatic breast cancer. Compared with fit age-matched controls, the vaginal pH in the tamoxifen-treated group was significantly lower and was comparable to levels in fertile women. Two thirds of tamoxifen-treated women had well oestrogenized vaginal smears compared with none in the control group. Follicle-stimulating hormone was significantly reduced, whilst oestrone and oestradiol levels remained unchanged. We conclude, therefore, that tamoxifen has oestrogen-agonistic properties particularly evident in postmenopausal women, even though it is primarily an antioestrogenic drug.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / blood
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Estrogens / blood*
  • Estrone / blood
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Menopause / blood*
  • Tamoxifen / adverse effects
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use*
  • Vagina / drug effects

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Tamoxifen
  • Estrone
  • Estradiol
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone