title: Aminoglutethimide in treatment of metastatic breast carcinoma.
abstract: 42 patients with metastatic breast carcinoma were treated with aminoglutethimide, which inhibits adrenal steroid hormone synthesis. Treatment was stopped in 2 patients before response could be assessed; of the other 40, 15 (37.5%) had an objective response, 1 (2.5%) showed a response in bone but not in soft tissue, and 4 (10%) had complete or very great relief of metastatic bone pain but no radiological evidence of improvement. 19 (53%) of 36 patients with bone metastases responded to treatment (15 had X-ray evidence and 4 had pain relief), as did 5 (45%) of 11 patients with soft tissue metastases, 2 (25%) of 8 with malignant marrow infiltration, 1 (14%) of 7 with lung metastases, and none of 13 with liver metastases. Response was commonest in patients who had previously responded to other forms of endocrine therapy. Side-effects, usually mild and transient, occurred in a few patients; the most important were an initial period of somnolence in 9 patients and a rash in 5.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000368:Aged; D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000616:Aminoglutethimide