| Title | Fulvestrant treatment is associated with cholesterol plasma level reduction in hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer patients. | | Author(s) | Camerini A, Rondini M, Garrone O, Valsuani C, Donati S, Siclari O, Sgambato A, Tartarelli G, Vincenti M, Mattiot VP, Porta RP, Puccetti C, Puccinelli P, Amoroso D | | Institution | Medical Oncology, Versilia Hospital and Istituto Toscano Tumori, Lido di Camaiore and Giovanni XXIII Cancer Research Center, Catholic University, Roma. | | Source | Cancer Biol Ther 2009 Aug 8; 8(15) | | Abstract | Background: Fulvestrant is a pure anti-estrogen hormonal agent formally lacking any estrogen-agonist activity. We analyze the effect(s) of fulvestrant treatment on estrogen target systems in hormone-sensitive advanced breast cancer patients.
Results: Patients received a median of 5 fulvestrant injections (range 3-19). We observed a partial response in one patient, disease stability in 21 and disease progression in 29 patients with a clinical benefit of 43.2% and a median time to progression of 5 [range 3-20] months. Total cholesterol levels significantly decreased during treatment (219.8 +/- 45.3 vs. 201.4 +/- 42.1 mg/dl; p = 0.0054) together with LDL-cholesterol (129.7 +/- 41.39 vs. 112.3 +/- 37.1 mg/dl; p = 0.018). HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides did not show significant changes. Reduction of total and LDL-cholesterol was independent from last hormonal treatment or treatment duration. All coagulation indices and mean endometrial mucosa thickness value did not vary.
Methods: Fifty-one patients (median age 65 [range 48-82] years) were enrolled. All patients received previous hormonal treatments, with 90.2% receiving >/=2 courses. Last hormonal treatment was exemestane, letrozole, anastrozole and other in 30-10-7-4/51 patients respectively. Median withdrawal time was 18 days (range 3-1456). Complete fasting lipid blood profile and coagulation indices were assessed before fulvestrant administration, every 3 months and at discontinuation time. Endometrial mucosa thickness was evaluated before fulvestrant administration and at end-study time.
Conclusions: We observed a lipid lowering effect of fulvestrant possibly related to an influence on lipid metabolism by a mechanism in which a role could be played by progesterone receptor. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19556864 |
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