Effects of ospemifene, a novel selective estrogen-receptor modulator, on human breast tissue ex vivo

Objective: Ospemifene (Osp) is a novel selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM) accepted for the treatment of dyspareunia, a symptom of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy. We aimed to analyze the effects of Osp on human breast tissue (HBT), in comparison with the clinically established SERMs raloxifene (Ral) and tamoxifen (Tam), using ex vivo explant cultures. Methods: HBT samples were obtained from postmenopausal women undergoing mammoplasty and cultured with or without Osp, Ral, Tam, or 17β-estradiol (E2) for 7 and 14 days, and studied for morphology, proliferation, and apoptosis. The expression of epithelial markers, the estrogen-receptor alpha (ERα), the androgen receptor (AR), TFF1, and apolipoprotein D was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The PvuII polymorphism of ERS1 was determined. Results: Osp, similar to Ral and Tam, decreased the number of proliferating cells in a concentration-dependent manner (at 100 nM, P 
Source: Menopause - Category: OBGYN Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research