Plasma levels of tamoxifen, N-desmethyl tamoxifen and anastrozole in a patient with metastatic breast cancer and chronic hemodialysis.

Endocrine therapy for hormone-sensitive breast cancer is a well-established treatment option, both in adjuvant and palliative settings. For patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, only scant pharmacokinetic data have been published for tamoxifen, and no data have been published for anastrozole. We therefore measured plasma levels of tamoxifen, its major metabolite, N-desmethyl tamoxifen, and anastrozole in a breast cancer patient undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Clinical tolerability was good. The blood levels for tamoxifen, N-desmethyl tamoxifen and anastrozole were within the expected therapeutic ranges. From this study, we can conclude that endocrine therapy for breast cancer with tamoxifen or anastrozole seems feasible and safe for patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.