title: Phase II study of megestrol acetate for metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.
abstract: Forty-three males with recurrent and metastatic cancer of the prostate were treated with megestrol acetate (160 mg/day orally) after having failed first-line hormonal treatment (orchiectomy or diethylstilboestrol). Thirty-seven patients were evaluated objectively for response, 28 of whom received the drug for more than 6 weeks. One patient had a partial response (National Prostatic Cancer Project criteria) and seven had stable disease. Toxicity was usually mild, although five patients developed a transient rise in liver enzymes and one patient had a grand mal fit. Three patients showed evidence of tumour "flare". Megestrol acetate has only limited efficacy in patients previously treated for prostatic cancer by hormonal manipulation.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008535:Megestrol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019290:Megestrol Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D008535:Megestrol; D019290:Megestrol Acetate