Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40050324›Full record

Observational studyScientific reports2025

The gut microbiota during tamoxifen therapy in patients with breast cancer.

Lars E Hillege, David J M Barnett, Janine Ziemons, Romy Aarnoutse, Judith de Vos-Geelen, Robin van Geel, Maaike de Boer, Yvonne E A van Riet, Jeroen Vincent, John Penders and 1 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing 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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
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

11 authors.

Lars E HillegeGROW - Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands. l.hillege@maastrichtuniversity.nl.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7010-7610
David J M BarnettNUTRIM - Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1961-7206
Janine ZiemonsGROW - Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4559-5488
Romy AarnoutseGROW - Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8713-9747
Judith de Vos-GeelenGROW - Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2578-1766
Robin van GeelCARIM School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1880-8131
Maaike de BoerGROW - Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0835-8651
Yvonne E A van RietDepartment of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, P.O. Box 1350, 5602 ZA, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Jeroen VincentDepartment of Medical Oncology, Elkerliek Hospital, P.O. Box 98, 5700 AB, Helmond, The Netherlands.
John PendersNUTRIM - Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9146-5919
Marjolein L SmidtGROW - Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8328-1869

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tamoxifen is essential in treating estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, primarily through its active metabolite, endoxifen. Emerging research suggests potential interactions between tamoxifen and gut microbiota. This study investigates the effects of tamoxifen on gut microbiota composition in postmenopausal ER+ and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer patients and explores correlations between gut microbiota and endoxifen plasma levels. This prospective observational study included postmenopausal ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients. Fecal and blood samples were collected before and during 6-12 weeks of tamoxifen therapy. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the hypervariable V4 gene region, and plasma endoxifen levels were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Changes in microbial diversity and composition were assessed, with correlations to endoxifen levels. A total of 62 patients were included. Tamoxifen significantly increased microbial richness (p = 0.019), although overall community structure remained consistent between pre- and during-treatment samples. Notable changes were observed in specific microbial taxa, with significant increases in genera such as Blautia (p

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Agents, HormonalBreast NeoplasmsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeTamoxifenAgedFecesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPostmenopauseProspective StudiesRNA, Ribosomal, 16SAntineoplastic Agents, HormonalRNA, Ribosomal, 16STamoxifenAntineoplastic agentsBreast neoplasmsPostmenopausal

Identifiers

PMID40050324
PMCPMC11885672

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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.