USE OF THE AROMATASE INHIBITOR 4-HYDROXYANDROSTENEDIONE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL BREAST-CANCER - OPTIMIZATION OF THERAPEUTIC DOSE AND ROUTE

  • 1 April 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (7) , 1957-1961
Abstract
4-Hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA) is a potent inhibitor of estrogen production by aromatase and causes suppression of plasma estradiol levels of disease regression in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Groups of patients were given p.o. or parenteral 4-OHA, and plasma estradiol and 4-OHA levels were measured to enable the delineation of the minimal effective dose and optimal therapeutic regimen. A single injection of 500 mg i.m. suppressed estradiol levels to a mean 36.3 .+-. 3.3% (SE) (n = 14) of base line after 4 to 7 days and maintained this suppression in six of seven patients for > 14 days. The half-life of 4-OHA was approximately 8 days, and when the level had fallen to less than 3 ng/ml, estradiol levels began to rise. Similar suppression was achieved by a single i.m. injection of 125 mg of 4-OHA and by 500 mg of 4-OHA p.o. daily after 1 wk, but escape from suppression was more rapid.