title: Treatment of advanced postmenopausal breast cancer with an aromatase inhibitor, 4-hydroxyandrostenedione: phase II report.
abstract: 4-Hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA), a potent new aromatase inhibitor, was given i.m. (500-1000 mg) to 58 patients with advanced postmenopausal breast cancer. Of 52 assessable patients 14 responded (27%), in 10 (19%) the disease stabilized, and in 28 (54%) the disease progressed. Sterile abscesses occurred at the injection site in 6 patients and painful lumps were found in a further 3 patients. Two patients developed allergic-type reactions and 4 developed lethargy, suspected to be treatment induced. Plasma estradiol levels were suppressed from a mean of 7.2 +/- 0.8 (SE) pg/ml before treatment to 2.6 +/- 0.2, 2.7 +/- 0.2, and 2.8 +/- 0.3 pg/ml after 1, 2, and greater than 4 months, respectively, of treatment and remained suppressed in patients whose disease relapsed. No significant fall in estrone levels was seen. Similarly, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, sex hormone binding globulin, and gonadotrophin levels were unaltered after 6 months of treatment. Plasma 4-OHA levels were measured in a radioimmunoassay for androstenedione after chromatographic separation of 4-OHA from androstenedione. Drug concentrations ranged from 0.7 to 23.2 (7.8 +/- 1.1) ng/ml after 2 months on treatment. 4-OHA is an effective drug in the management of postmenopausal patients with breast cancer and does not produce notable systemic side effects.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004970:Estrone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; C014594:formestane