tamoxifen

American  

[tuh-mok-suh-fuhn, ‑-fen] / təˈmɒk sə fən, ‑ˌfɛn /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. an antineoplastic drug, C 26 H 29 NO, that blocks the estrogen receptors on cancer cells, used in the treatment of breast cancer.

---

tamoxifen British  

/ təˈmɒksɪfɛn /

noun

1. a drug that antagonizes the action of oestrogen and is used to treat breast cancer and some types of infertility in women

---

tamoxifen Scientific  

/ tə-mŏk′sə-fĕn /

1. An estrogen antagonist drug used to treat advanced breast cancer in women whose tumors are estrogen-dependent and to prevent breast cancer in some women who are at high risk.

---

Etymology

Origin of tamoxifen

1970–75; perhaps t(rans)- + am(ino)- + oxy- ² + phen(yl), with respelling of y and ph

Example Sentences

At the moment, risk-reduction options are limited and can include drugs such as tamoxifen that lower risk but may have unwanted side effects.

From Science Daily • Dec. 5, 2024

Following her treatment, Brown suffered from fatigue and brain fog on the tamoxifen she took for years to prevent cancer recurrence.

From Washington Post • May 13, 2022

They have developed medications that extend lives, such as Herceptin and tamoxifen for breast cancer and Gleevec for leukemias and other cancers.

From Scientific American • Aug. 4, 2019

She has been cancer-free since stopping tamoxifen in 2012, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2018

In breast cancer, for example, “if you can’t do a mastectomy or use tamoxifen, you probably shouldn’t even try to treat,” he said.

From New York Times • Oct. 7, 2017