Tamoxifen is an estrogen-like drug that is used to treat breast cancer patients, breast cancer survivors, and patients with a family history of breast cancer. As a treatment, tamoxifen is extremely effective at decreasing the changes of getting cancer and increasing patient survival. The goal of our research is to understand how tamoxifen may affect other estrogen-sensitive tissues, specifically the hypothalamus. We hypothesize that tamoxifen alters estrogen receptor signaling in the hypothalamus and that this dysregulation underlies the generation of hot flashes in patients undergoing tamoxifen therapy. We will use cutting-edge molecular tools to define the tamoxifen-sensitive cell types within the hypothalamus and genetically engineered mice to identify the cell types and receptors that mediate the effects of tamoxifen on temperature control. This information will help us better understand how tamoxifen therapy impacts the brain. Ultimately, this information could be used to design treatments or adjuvants that provide relief from the side effects of tamoxifen and improve quality of life for breast cancer patients and survivors.
Tamoxifen treatment is extremely effective at decreasing the changes of getting cancer and increasing patient survival, however the effects of tamoxifen on tissues other than the breast are poorly understood. The goal of our research is to understand how tamoxifen affects the hypothalamus and to determine if these effects could underlie hot flashes, the single most common negative side effect of tamoxifen therapy. Ultimately, understanding how existing therapies affect other aspects of health could help us counteract adverse consequences and increase patient quality of life.
