Approved Drug Tamoxifen, Molecular Weapon to Treat Blood Neoplasms (IMAGE)

Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)

Approved Drug Tamoxifen, Molecular Weapon to Treat Blood Neoplasms

Caption

This study suggests that the blood stem cells (pink for female, blue for male) that, when altered, produce excessive blood cells (diseases called neoplasms) can be killed by female sex hormones. This finding potentially explains why these diseases and related cancers are more common in men than in women. The approved drug tamoxifen, whose chemical structure resembles female sex hormones and has been used in the picture to depict the feminine symbol (pink), can be used to block the development of blood neoplasms in male and female mice.

Credit

Andrés García-García

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