title: Estradiol and progesterone receptors content and response to norethisterone treatment in advanced breast cancer.
abstract: Twenty-six patients with advanced breast cancer and progressive disease were treated by norethisterone. Estradiol and progesterone receptors were measured before starting treatment, and in three cases after 2 to 4.75 months of therapy. Partial remissions (greater than 50% decrease of all lesions) or objective improvements (decrease of 20-50%) were obtained in 7 patients, with a mean duration of 6.7 months. Stabilization of the lesions (no change or decrease of less than 20% in the size of the target lesion) was observed in 7 patients. No clear-cut correlation was found between clinical response and presence in biopsies of estradiol and progesterone receptors. However, absence of response occurred more frequently if tumors did not contain progesterone receptors.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011959:Receptors, Estradiol; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D009640:Norethindrone