title: Weekly doxorubicin with or without high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate in hormone-resistant advanced breast cancer. A randomised study. The Norwegian Breast Cancer Group.
abstract: In a randomised study, 218 patients with advanced breast cancer, resistant to hormone therapy, received either doxorubicin 20 mg every week (Awkly) alone or Awkly combined with high doses (1000 mg daily) of oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (HD-MPA). Of the 210 evaluable patients, the response rates were 26% [95% confidence interval (CI) 18-34%] for Awkly and 38% (95% CI 29-47%) for Awkly + HD-MPA (P = 0.08). There was no significant difference with regard to duration of response. Median survival was 11 months in both groups. Considerable toxicity was seen from HD-MPA, particularly weight gain and fluid retention. The present study provides evidence that, in concordance with preclinical studies and a previous randomised study, interaction between chemotherapy and HD-MPA may exist in breast cancer normally resistant to hormone therapy. For further studies, other gestagens and/or a dose reduction could be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, Oslo.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gundersen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hannisdal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lundgren
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wist
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate