title: Use of the aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione in postmenopausal breast cancer: optimization of therapeutic dose and route.
abstract: 4-Hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA) is a potent inhibitor of estrogen production by aromatase and causes suppression of plasma estradiol levels and disease regression in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Groups of patients were given p.o. or parenteral 4-OHA, and plasma estradiol and 4-OHA levels were measured to enable the delineation of the minimal effective dose and optimal therapeutic regimen. A single injection of 500 mg i.m. suppressed estradiol levels to a mean 36.3 +/- 3.3% (SE) (n = 14) of base line after 4 to 7 days and maintained this suppression in six of seven patients for greater than 14 days. The half-life of 4-OHA was approximately 8 days, and when the level had fallen to less than 3 ng/ml, estradiol levels began to rise. Similar suppression was achieved by a single i.m. injection of 125 mg of 4-OHA and by 500 mg of 4-OHA p.o. daily after 1 wk, but escape from suppression was more rapid.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007700:Kinetics; D008593:Menopause
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol