[High-dosage gestagen treatment in the therapy of advanced breast cancer]

The results obtained with a new hormonal treatment schedule involving the administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate in single and total doses never before used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer are reported. The results concern 100 patients, 13 of which in premenopause and 87 in postmenopause stage. 79 patients were treated with a single daily dose of 1500 mg i.m. for 30 days, subdivided into 2 equal doses administered at intervals of 12 hours, while 21 patients were treated with a dose of 2000 mg/day using the same modalities. In the 13 premenopausal patients, complete or partial objective remission was observed in 12/13 (92%) of cases, while the disease advanced in one of the patients (8%). Of the 87 postmenopausal patients, complete or partial objective remission was observed in 40/87 (46%) of cases, minimal remission in 9/87 (10%), while 18/87 (21%) remained stationary. The disease advanced in 20/87 (23%) of patients. In patients where metastasis mainly affected the bones and soft tissues complete or partial remission occurred in 41/52 (79%) of cases. Those where visceral metastasis was prevalent showed remission in 3/33 (9%) of cases. Median duration of remission was 6 months (range: 3--27). A significant reduction of pain was noticed in 68/74 (92%) of cases, of dyspnea in 20/25 (80%), of anorexia in 45/53 (85%), of asthenia in 49/70 (70%) and of restriction of movement in 24/39 (62%). On the basis of the present results, treatment with massive doses of medroxyprogesterone acetate should be considered: a) as first therapeutic measure in the treatment of postmenopausal patients with prevalent lesions in soft tissues and bones; b) as a subject of a particular study in premenopausal patients with breast cancer in an advanced stage, and c) as a possible alternative to polychemotherapy in the treatment of micrometastasis following mastectomy.