Journal of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems
Open Access

The Role of Tamoxifen in Preventing Breast Cancer

Mohammad Mehdi^{* *}Correspondence: Mohammad Mehdi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Manipal University, Karnataka, India, Email:

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Description

Hormones are chemical messengers that carry messages throughout the body. They have an impact on the actions of cells and tissues throughout the body, and they frequently reach their targets via the bloodstream. Estrogen and progesterone are generated by the ovaries in premenopausal women, as well as other tissues such as fat and skin in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and men. Estrogen encourages the growth of long bones and the development of female sex traits. The hormone progesterone is involved in both the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Some breast cancers, known as hormonesensitive (or hormone-dependent) breast cancers, are also stimulated by estrogen and progesterone.

Hormone receptors (Estrogen Receptors, or ERs, and Progesterone Receptors, or PRs) are proteins found in hormonesensitive breast cancer cells that become activated when hormones get attached to them. Changes in the expression of specific genes are caused by activated receptors, which can stimulate cell growth. Tamoxifen is the most common and oldest Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator on the market (SERM). Women and men diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer after surgery (or possibly chemotherapy and radiation) to reduce the risk of the cancer returning (recurring) women and men diagnosed with advanced-stage or metastatic hormone-receptor-positive disease after surgery (or possibly chemotherapy and radiation) to reduce the risk of the cancer returning (recurring) Tamoxifen is a drug that is used to treat breast cancer in both men and women that has progressed to other places of the body.

It's used to treat early-stage breast cancer in women who had surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. It is used to lower the risk of getting a more dangerous form of breast cancer in women who have had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; a type of breast cancer that does not spread outside of the milk duct where it develops) and have had surgery and radiation treatment. It's used to lower the chance of breast cancer in women who are at high risk because of their age, personal medical history, or family medical history. Tamoxifen belongs to the anti-estrogens class of drugs. It inhibits estrogen's (a female hormone's) function in the body.

Some breast tumors that require estrogen to grow may be slowed or stopped as a result of this. Tamoxifen is a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, which is a type of hormonal therapy (SERM). In breast cancer cells, the medication binds to hormone receptors (particular proteins). Once inside the cells, the medicine prevents the cancer from gaining access to the hormones.

Mechanisms

Tamoxifen competes with estrogen to prevent it from attaching to its receptor, which is necessary for its activity in breast cancer cells. Tamoxifen lowers tumor growth factor and insulin-like growth factor while raising sex hormone binding globulin levels. The amount of freely accessible estradiol is limited by an increase in sex hormone binding globulin. The amounts of substances that promote tumors growth are reduced as a result of these alterations. Tamoxifen has also been proven to cause apoptosis in cells that have estrogen receptors. Protein kinase C inhibition, which hinders DNA synthesis, is likely to be the cause of this activity. Alternative explanations for tamoxifen's apoptotic action include a threefold increase in intracellular and mitochondrial calcium ion levels following delivery, as well as the production of tumors growth factor.

Benefits of tamoxifen

Tamoxifen has been used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in millions of women and men. While an aromatase inhibitor is the first line defense for postmenopausal women, Tamoxifen is the first line defense for premenopausal women and is still a viable option for postmenopausal women who are unable to take an aromatase inhibitor. They lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence by 40% to 50% in postmenopausal women and 30% to 50% in premenopausal women and reduces the risk of breast cancer in women who have a higher-than-average risk of disease but have not been diagnosed.