Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39592740›Full record

ArticleBritish journal of cancer2025

Effects of tamoxifen on cognitive function in patients with primary breast cancer.

Maryse J Luijendijk, Sanne M Buijs, Agnes Jager, Stijn L W Koolen, Elsken van der Wall, Sanne B Schagen, Ron H J Mathijssen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in British journal of cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment.Neuro-oncology advances · 2026
    Review
  2. Long-term cognitive function after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibition for melanoma.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Maryse J Luijendijk *Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. m.luijendijk@nki.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0435-8566
Sanne M Buijs *Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0548-1803
Agnes JagerDepartment of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7713-1450
Stijn L W KoolenDepartment of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Elsken van der WallDepartment of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Sanne B SchagenDivision of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0153-8059
Ron H J MathijssenDepartment of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5667-5697

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTamoxifen may adversely affect cognitive function by interfering with estrogen action in the brain. Despite growing evidence for a relationship between tamoxifen and cognitive problems, findings remain inconclusive. While some tamoxifen-related side effects seem exposure-dependent with concentrations of tamoxifen or its main metabolite, endoxifen, this has never been investigated for cognitive function. We investigated cognitive function after two years of tamoxifen and its association with tamoxifen and endoxifen exposure.

methods135 women with breast cancer completed the Amsterdam Cognition Scan (ACS), an online neuropsychological test battery, after two years of tamoxifen. Test scores were converted to standardized Z-scores based on a matched 'no-cancer' control group. Tamoxifen and endoxifen concentrations and tamoxifen dose were regressed separately on cognitive functioning.

resultsPatients reported mild cognitive complaints and had worse verbal learning, processing speed, executive functioning, and motor functioning compared to matched controls. After correcting for age, mean tamoxifen and endoxifen levels, as well as tamoxifen dose, were associated with worse performance on several cognitive domains.

conclusionTamoxifen is adversely associated with objective as well as self-reported cognitive function, which may depend on the level of exposure to tamoxifen and endoxifen. Further research is warranted to confirm this hypothesis.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Agents, HormonalBreast NeoplasmsCognitionTamoxifenAdultAgedCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedNeuropsychological Tests4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifenAntineoplastic Agents, HormonalTamoxifen

Identifiers

PMID39592740
PMCPMC11747089

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.