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The effect of toremifene therapy on serum immunoglobulin levels in breast cancer
Author(s) -
Paavonen TIMO,
Aronen HANNU,
PyrhÖNen SEPPO,
Hajba ALAJOS,
Andersson LEIF C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb01270.x
Subject(s) - toremifene , medicine , antibody , pokeweed mitogen , breast cancer , antiestrogen , endocrinology , estrogen therapy , immunoglobulin g , immunoglobulin m , estrogen , cancer , lymphocyte , stimulation , immunology , tamoxifen , biology , concanavalin a , biochemistry , in vitro
Estrogens and anti‐estrogens enhance the number of immunoglobulin (Ig)‐secreting cells in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)‐stimulated lymphocyte cultures. Lymphocytes from patients who have received anti‐estrogen therapy show similar enhancement of Ig‐secreting cells after PWM stimulation. In this study the effect of anti‐estrogen (toremifene) therapy on serum immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, IgG) levels in breast cancer patients was investigated. Serum Ig levels were followed up to two years after or during the therapy. An unexpected finding was that the Ig levels decreased during the follow‐up period. This decrease was seen in patients who responded to the therapy as well as in those who did not.