''N'',''N''-Desmethyltamoxifen is a

metabolite In biochemistry, a metabolite is an intermediate or end product of metabolism. The term is usually used for small molecules. Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, c ...

tamoxifen Tamoxifen, sold under the brand name Nolvadex among others, is a selective estrogen receptor modulator used to prevent breast cancer in women and treat breast cancer in women and men. It is also being studied for other types of cancer. It has b ...

, a

selective estrogen receptor modulator Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), also known as estrogen receptor agonist/antagonists (ERAAs), are a class of drugs that act on the estrogen receptor (ER). A characteristic that distinguishes these substances from pure ER agonists a ...

(SERM). It is formed from ''N''-desmethyltamoxifen and is an intermediate in the conversion of tamoxifen and ''N''-desmethyltamoxifen into

norendoxifen Norendoxifen, also known as 4-hydroxy-''N'',''N''-didesmethyltamoxifen, is a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (AI) of the triphenylethylene group that was never marketed. It is an active metabolite of the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SER ...

(4-hydroxy-''N'',''N''-desmethyltamoxifen), an

active metabolite An active metabolite is an active form of a drug after it has been processed by the body. Metabolites of drugs An active metabolite results when a drug is metabolized by the body into a modified form which continues to produce effects in the body ...

of tamoxifen.

References

Amines Aromatase inhibitors Hormonal antineoplastic drugs Human drug metabolites Prodrugs Triphenylethylenes {{Antineoplastic-drug-stub