Combined tamoxifen and anabolic steroid as primary treatment for breast carcinoma in the elderly.
Fifty-one consecutive patients aged over 70 years with localized breast carcinoma received primary treatment with tamoxifen and nandrolone decanoate. Results were compared to a control group of 51 age, tumour volume and nodal status-matched patients selected from a cohort who had primary treatment with tamoxifen alone. One year after commencement of treatment 31 (60%) patients treated with tamoxifen and nandrolone showed regression of their tumour, compared to 24 (47%) in the control group. Twenty-two (44%) patients had side effects attributable to nandrolone. Only four (8%) patients continued nandrolone for more than 12 months, and at 3 years after commencement of treatment 21 (40%) patients from each group had tumour regression. We argue that nandrolone should not be used as primary treatment in breast carcinoma, but may have a role to play in patients who fail to respond to tamoxifen.
Pain
J A
JA
Department of Surgery, Mayday Hospital, Thornton Heath, London, UK.
Wickremesinghe
S S
SS
Bradbeer
J W
JW
D000368:Aged; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D013629:Tamoxifen; D009277:Nandrolone; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate