Toremifene-induced fatty liver and NASH in breast cancer patients with breast-conservation treatment.

  • Authors:
    • N Hamada
    • Y Ogawa
    • T Saibara
    • Y Murata
    • S Kariya
    • A Nishioka
    • M Terashima
    • T Inomata
    • S Yoshida
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 1, 2000     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.17.6.1119
  • Pages: 1119-1142
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

We have described fatty liver, diagnosed by computed tomography scanning (CT) in more than 30% of patients with breast cancer who received tamoxifen. Therefore, it is urgent to elucidate the frequency and the degree of fatty liver induced by toremifene, an analogue of tamoxifen, which is also used in breast cancer. We enrolled 52 breast cancer patients who were treated with breast-conservation treatment and administered oral toremifene for 3-5 years as adjuvant endocrine therapy. We evaluated the degree of fatty liver by abdominal CT performed annually. CT demonstrated toremifene-induced fatty liver in four (7.7%) of 52 breast cancer patients. Toremifene-induced fatty liver did not correlate with abnormal levels of AST, ALT, GGT or total cholesterol. One patient who demonstrated moderate fatty liver by CT was histologically diagnosed as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by liver biopsy. The incidence of toremifene-induced fatty liver was significantly lower than that induced by tamoxifen. Accordingly, in terms of fatty liver and NASH, toremifene is considered to be more appropriate agent than tamoxifen. Though toremifene is less likely to induce fatty liver, the possibility remains that toremifene-induced steatohepatitis occurs. Because the diagnosis of fatty liver or NASH can be easily missed if only a blood test is performed, it is necessary to screen fatty liver by annual CT examination for patients who receive an antiestrogen agent.

Related Articles

Journal Cover

Dec 2000
Volume 17 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Hamada N, Ogawa Y, Saibara T, Murata Y, Kariya S, Nishioka A, Terashima M, Inomata T and Yoshida S: Toremifene-induced fatty liver and NASH in breast cancer patients with breast-conservation treatment.. Int J Oncol 17: 1119-1142, 2000
APA
Hamada, N., Ogawa, Y., Saibara, T., Murata, Y., Kariya, S., Nishioka, A. ... Yoshida, S. (2000). Toremifene-induced fatty liver and NASH in breast cancer patients with breast-conservation treatment.. International Journal of Oncology, 17, 1119-1142. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.17.6.1119
MLA
Hamada, N., Ogawa, Y., Saibara, T., Murata, Y., Kariya, S., Nishioka, A., Terashima, M., Inomata, T., Yoshida, S."Toremifene-induced fatty liver and NASH in breast cancer patients with breast-conservation treatment.". International Journal of Oncology 17.6 (2000): 1119-1142.
Chicago
Hamada, N., Ogawa, Y., Saibara, T., Murata, Y., Kariya, S., Nishioka, A., Terashima, M., Inomata, T., Yoshida, S."Toremifene-induced fatty liver and NASH in breast cancer patients with breast-conservation treatment.". International Journal of Oncology 17, no. 6 (2000): 1119-1142. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.17.6.1119