title: Sequential cyclic combined hormonal therapy for metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: Thirty postmenopausal patients who had evaluable estrogen receptor-positive or unknown metastatic breast cancer were treated with cyclic sequential combined hormonal therapy consisting of 50 micrograms of ethinylestradiol orally daily for 7 days followed by 400 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate orally daily for 21 days, followed in turn by 7 days of rest. Cyclic administration was continued until progressive disease was detected. Patients who had had one previous chemotherapy regimen were included, but 63% of patients were previously untreated. Six patients achieved complete remission and 11, a partial remission, for an overall response rate of 57%. Median remission duration was 22 months; median time to disease progression for all 30 patients was 8 months. Toxicity consisted of cyclic vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, weight gain, irritability, and fluid retention. This cyclic, sequential hormonal regimen was effective and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Hortobagyi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hug
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Buzdar
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kau
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Fritsche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone