Pros and cons of aminoglutethimide for advanced postmenopausal breast cancer.
In a phase II clinical trial, 38 postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer were treated with aminoglutethimide and replacement hydrocortisone. All women had previously received up to 4 modalities of endocrine therapy. Seventeen patients had also been treated with cytostatic drugs. Twenty-five percent of the 29 evaluable patients experienced objective tumor regression, lasting from 11 to more than 18 months. In 29% the disease was stabilized for 3 to more than 15 months. Toxicity was significant, necessitating drug withdrawal in 3 patients. One patient died within 3 weeks of therapy from multiple perforated gastric ulcers. Two patients developed herpes zoster within 4 weeks of treatment. Many side effects were minor and transient. However, treatment resulted in overt primary hypothyroidism in 25% of the evaluable patients and in a strongly increased need of acenocoumarin in all 3 patients on anticoagulant therapy.
D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D013972:Thyrotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone