Effect of tamoxifen on serum IL‐18, vascular endothelial growth factor and nitric oxide activities in breast carcinoma patients

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 2004-09, Vol.137 (3), p.546-551
• Main Authors: COSKUN, U., GUNEL, N., SANCAK, B., ONUK, E., BAYRAM, M., CIHAN, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; angiogenesis; apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Clinical Studies; Endometrium - diagnostic imaging; Estrogen Receptor Modulators - therapeutic use; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; hormone therapy; Humans; Immunopathology; Interleukin-18 - blood; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; nitrate; Nitrates - blood; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; nitrite; Nitrites - blood; Tamoxifen - therapeutic use; Ultrasonography; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - blood
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2004.02579.x

SUMMARY Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multi‐functional cytokine that has been suggested to be a major angiogenic factor in breast cancer. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent biological molecule that partipicates in the multi‐step process of carcinogenesis. Interleukin (IL)‐18 has been shown to have potent anti‐tumour effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of tamoxifen therapy on serum VEGF, NO and IL‐18 activity in breast cancer patients. Serum levels of VEGF, nitrate + nitrite and IL‐18 were measured in 34 postmenopausal breast cancer patients before and 3 months after the tamoxifen therapy. Both serum VEGF and IL‐18 levels decreased after tamoxifen therapy (P = 0·051, P