Tamoxifen, Antidepressants, and the CYP2D6 Gene

Recent research shows that women with the CYP2D6 gene, who take Tamoxifen as follow-up treatment to prevent a relapse of breast cancer, are at greater risk for a relapse. About ten percent of women with breast cancer also carry the CYP2D6 gene. This gene prevents the body from properly using tamoxifen to suppress estrogen, a crucial part of prevention of estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. Related studies find that certain antidepressants, such as Paxil, also reduce the effectiveness of tamoxifen.

• Gene Variation Affects Tamoxifen's Benefit For Breast Cancer
• The ethics of CYP2D6 testing for patients considering tamoxifen
• Hormone Receptor Status and Diagnosis - Estogen and Progesterone

Image courtesy of: RCSB PDB Protein Data Bank, Crystal Structure of Human Cytochrome P450 2D6 J.Biol.Chem. v281 pp.7614-7622 , 2006, Rowland, P., et. al.