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The anti‐oestrogen drug tamoxifen is an elongation inhibitor of eukaryotic protein biosynthesis
Author(s) -
Guille Matthew J.,
Arnstein Henry R.V.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(86)80024-2
Subject(s) - tamoxifen , reticulocyte , protein biosynthesis , mechanism of action , antiestrogen , drug , pharmacology , biology , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , breast cancer , cancer , messenger rna , in vitro , gene
The drug tamoxifen is widely used in the chemotherapy of breast cancer but its action is not explained completely by its anti‐oestrogen properties. We now present evidence indicating that it is also a potent inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis as demonstrated in Xenopus oocytes, intact reticulocytes and reticulocyte lysates. The inhibition affects general protein synthesis, is transient in oocytes and not reversed by oestrogen. The drug appears to act by inhibiting polypeptide chain elongation. This action of tamoxifen is independent of oestrogen receptors and may explain its therapeutic effectiveness in oestrogen‐independent tumours.