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Review
. 2021 May 27;12(1):17.
doi: 10.1007/s12672-021-00411-y.

Tamoxifen and oxidative stress: an overlooked connection

Nermin S Ahmed  1 , Marek Samec  2 , Alena Liskova  2 , Peter Kubatka  3 , Luciano Saso  4
Affiliations
Review

Tamoxifen and oxidative stress: an overlooked connection

Nermin S Ahmed et al. Discov Oncol. .

Abstract

Tamoxifen is the gold standard drug for the treatment of breast cancer in pre and post-menopausal women. Its journey from a failing contraceptive to a blockbuster is an example of pharmaceutical innovation challenges. Tamoxifen has a wide range of pharmacological activities; a drug that was initially thought to work via a simple Estrogen receptor (ER) mechanism was proven to mediate its activity through several non-ER mechanisms. Here in we review the previous literature describing ER and non-ER targets of tamoxifen, we highlighted the overlooked connection between tamoxifen, tamoxifen apoptotic effects and oxidative stress.

Keywords: Apoptosis; ER; Oxidative stress; Resistance; Tamoxifen.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Direct genomic ligand dependent ER mechanism
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Indirect genomic ligand dependent ER mechanism
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Non-genomic ligand dependent ER mechanism
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Overlay of 4-OHTAM in (green) with DES (red)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Helix 12 controlling transcription activity of ER
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Timeline of tamoxifen development
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Tamoxifen and 4-OHTAM anti-angiogenic mechanism
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Tamoxifen role in MDR
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Factors contributing to tamoxifen resistance
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Mechanism of tamoxifen induced apoptosis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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