Summary

For patients with comorbid medical conditions, knowledge of drug metabolism is important and may in fact be critical in the oncology setting. A case in point is the widespread use of the anti-estrogen compound tamoxifen, which acts via estrogen receptor modulation. Unfortunately, one of the more common adverse events that occur with this drug is hot flashes, a condition that is uncomfortable to the point of discouraging long-term treatment adherence. An attempt to resolve this discomfort may result in additional unforeseen risk.