ISSN:
1573-7217
Keywords:
endocrine therapy
;
megestrol acetate
;
progestins
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary A new formulation of megestrol acetate, a semisynthetic oral progestin used in the hormonal treatment of breast cancer, allows the administration of 160 mg of the drug in a single daily dose. Sixty-nine postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer have been treated with this regimen: five patients received megestrol acetate as first-line treatment of their metastatic disease, while all the others had been previously treated with one or more regimens of chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. The median duration of the treatment for evaluable patients was 3 months (range 1–13+). Among 65 evaluable patients 2 complete responses and 12 partial responses (objective response rate 21.5%; 95% confidence limits 12.31%–33.49%) were observed. Median duration of response was 7 months (range 2–12+). Responses were observed both in visceral and in non-visceral sites of disease. Twenty-nine patients obtained a stabilization of disease (44.7%), and twenty-two progressed (33.8%). Median duration of stabilization was 4 months (range 3–13+). Median survival for all patients from the start of megestrol acetate was 9 months (range 1–22+). The most common side effect of therapy was weight gain, occurring in 36% of patients. Megestrol acetate on a single-daily-dose schedule can be considered as an interesting hormonal treatment for advanced breast cancer, especially in the clinical instance of patients who, after having obtained a remission or stabilization of disease with tamoxifen, need further palliative treatment.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01812684
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