Enzymes that hydrolyze adenine nucleotides in platelets from breast cancer patients

The activities of NTPDase (EC 3.6.1.5, apyrase, CD39) and 5′-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5, CD73) enzymes were analyzed in platelets from breast cancer patients. Initially, patients were compared in terms of length (years) of tamoxifen use. The following groups were studied: breast cancer patients who did not use tamoxifen, patients using tamoxifen for 1–48 months, patients using tamoxifen for 49–84 months, and controls (healthy subjects). Results demonstrated that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis was enhanced (F(3,114)=8.53; P