Tamoxifen as an anti-tumour agent: effect on oestrogen binding.

Tamoxifen (ICI 46,474) has been shown to possess anti-tumour properties in the dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary carcinoma model. During tamoxifen therapy the binding of [3H]oestradiol in vivo to uterine (P less than 0-001), vaginal (P less than 0 X 01) and tumour (P less than 0-001) tissues was significantly reduced. Tamoxifen therapy was without effect on the binding of [3H]oestradiol in heart tissue. The determination of specific oestrogen-binding components in vitro was significantly reduced (P less than 0-01) in tumours from tamoxifen-treated rats and tamoxifen inhibited the binding of [3H]oestradiol to 8S oestrogen-binding components, derived from rat uteri and DMBA-induced tumours, in vitro.