POSSIBLE NEW APPROACH TO TREATMENT OF METASTATIC BREAST-CANCER - MASSIVE DOSES OF MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 62  (4) , 499-504
Abstract
The results obtained with a new hormone therapy using medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) in previously untested single and total doses in the treatment of advanced breast cancer are reported. Fifty-two postmenopausal patients were treated with an average total dose of 40 g of MAP for a period of 30 days. Nineteen of 44 patients (43%) had complete or partial remission, while the disease remained unchanged in 9 of 44 patients (20%). Disease progression occurred in 12 of 44 patients (27%). Partial or complete remission occurred in 12 of 18 (67%) and 4 of 6 (67%) of the patients with dominant osseous and soft tissue metastases, respectively. Three of 10 (16%) of those with visceral metastases had remission. The average duration of remission was 7 mo. Average survival times were 15.5 mo. for patients with remission, 8 mo. for those with no change and 2.5 mo. for those with disease progression. From a subjective standpoint, pain was reduced significantly or disappeared in 34 of 36 patients (94%). This was also the case with respect to dyspnea (13 of 16 patients [81%]), anorexia (24 of 29 [83%]), asthenia (28 of 35 [80%]) and walking impairment (15 of 24 [63%]). When relapse occurred, patients previously treated with massive doses of MAP received further treatment with higher doses of MAP; 4 of 22 (18%) of the patients attained partial remission once again. Positive effects were also seen in subjective performance status, body weight and ECG. The new clinical and toxicologic features of this treatment were also described.