Question

Hello! i need help with this question. it is confusing. thanks!

Tamoxifen is used for treatment of both early and advanced ER+ (estrogen receptor positive) breast cancer in women. In breast tissue, tamoxifen act as estrogen receptor antagonists A) Why do steroid hormones not require transducing elements, such as G proteins, to exert their effects on cellular metabolism? B) Why must tamoxifen be lipid soluble? C) Why can tamoxifen inhibit growth of breast cancer cells?

Answer 1

A) The molecular weight of steroid hormones are low enough to diffuse across the cell membrane and bind with the receptors at the nuclear level.

B) Lipid soluble drugs tend to accumulate in fatty tissues such as breast tissues. Tamoxifen being a lipid soluble drug can be used for the treatment of breast cancer.

C) Tamoxifen binds with the estrogen receptors inside the cells and thus blocking the receptors to bind with estrogen. This inturn prevents estrogen-induced cell proliferation.