title: [Current status of hormonotherapy of metastatic cancer of the breast].
abstract: Hormonotherapy of metastatic breast cancer was begun in 1896. The first trials were based on surgery (ovariectomy, adrenalectomy, hypophysectomy). Medical hormone therapy began with the administration of estrogens to postmenopausal women, and was then extended to include androgens. The use of tamoxifen, medroxyprogesterone acetate or aminoglutethimide combined with hydrocortisone progressively enlarged therapeutic applications. Comparison of the results obtained with these various substances reveals that they are all of equal therapeutic value, but that tamoxifen is the best tolerated hormonotherapy. No two-drug association has yet been found better that any one product used alone. By contrast, successive administration of 2 drugs has resulted in longer maintenance of benefits. Clinical and especially biological criteria (hormone receptor assays) allow identification of the population that has the most chance of responding to this type of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Namer
mesh_terms: D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008593:Menopause; D010052:Ovariectomy; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
vernacular_title: Etat actuel de l'hormonothérapie des cancers du sein métastatiques.