THE EXCRETION OF OESTRONE, PREGNANEDIOL AND PREGNANETRIOL IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

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Abstract
The urinary excretion of oestrone, pregnanediol and pregnanetriol has been determined in breast cancer patients at different stages of their endocrine treatment. The results demonstrate that corticosteroids in substitution doses (cortisone 50 mg daily, or prednisone 10 mg daily, divided in 4 daily doses) are very effective in depressing the excretion of all three steroids in postmenopausal patients. This is in agreement with our clinical impression that these easily tolerated small doses of corticosteroids have the same therapeutic effect as adrenalectomy in patients with breast cancer. The results indicate that the ovaries may contribute to the production of oestrogens for many years after the menopause, and that this production is depressed by ovarian irradiation. This is in agreement with our clinical observation that ovarian irradiation has a therapeutic value in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.