Sequentially administered ethinyl estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate in the treatment of refractory epithelial ovarian carcinoma in patients with positive estrogen receptors.
The activity of sequentially administered hormonal therapy was investigated over 25 days in 25 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma who had estrogen receptor (ERc)-positive tumors. Patients received ethinyl estradiol (EE) (50 micrograms/d) on days 1 to 7 and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (400 mg/d) on days 8 to 25. Twenty-three patients completed one or more courses of treatment. There were no complete responses (CR). Four partial responses (PR) with durations of 9, 4, 3, and 1 months were seen. Two incomplete responses with durations of 6 and 4 months were also seen. Six patients had stable disease (SD), and 11 patients had progression. The overall response rate was 17% and may represent a modest improvement in response over those in previously published studies conducted with MPA alone. No significant toxic effects were noticed, and some patients reported an improved sense of well-being. However, two patients experienced depression with this treatment. The mean ERc values in responders, patients with SD, and nonresponders were 70.0, 36.7, and 47.9 fmol/mg cytosolic protein, respectively. Future studies of hormonal therapy in patients with ovarian carcinoma should attempt to identify more reliable indices for determining sensitivity to these agents.
Fromm
G L
GL
Department of Gynecology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston 77030.
Freedman
R S
RS
Fritsche
H A
HA
Atkinson
E N
EN
Scott
W
W
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D012074:Remission Induction
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone