Deflazacort and fluoximesterone in advanced, pretreated breast cancer.
A very simple, low dose, orally administered regime (10 to 15 mg of fluoximesterone + 6 mg of deflazacort daily for periods of 1 to several months) resulting in mild-acceptable toxicity (essentially some weight gain) determined subjective improvement in 2/3 of 34 evaluable patients (out of 36 treated) and an objective measurable tumor reduction in 1/3, although most patients had been previously treated with chemotherapy and hormone treatment and proved primarily or secondarily refractory. The receptor status at the beginning of fluoximesterone+deflazacort treatment was not known, except in one negative-receptor patient, who responded to the combination after becoming resistant to tamoxifen (see photo). In some patients the condition of hormone refractoriness would suggest a no-treatment policy, but a trial with this regime is always convenient as it may improve both duration and quality of life.
Fornasiero
A
A
Divisione di Oncologia Medica, Ospedale Civile, Padova, Italy.
Ferrazzi
E
E
Aversa
S M
SM
Daniele
O
O
Ghiotto
C
C
Sileni
V C
VC
De Besi
P
P
Fiorentino
M V
MV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005474:Fluoxymesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D011282:Pregnenediones; D005474:Fluoxymesterone; C021988:deflazacort