title: Efficacy and tolerability of 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA) as first-line treatment in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer after adjuvant therapy.
abstract: Aromatase inhibitors are known to be effective in the treatment of advanced postmenopausal breast cancer. To assess the efficacy of the aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA) as first-line treatment in patients who were either resistant to or had relapsed after adjuvant therapy, 50 eligible patients received intramuscular 4-OHA either 250 mg or 500 mg fortnightly until disease progression or severe adverse events. Of the 43 patients evaluable for clinical response (UICC criteria), 15 (36%) showed objective response (CR+PR), 6 (14%) stable disease (SD). In relation to disease site, objective responses were obtained in 55% of cases with soft tissue metastases (16/29); in 33% with visceral metastases (8/24), and in 24% with bone involvement (5/21). In relation to previous adjuvant treatment, there were eight objective responses among the 17 patients treated with chemotherapy (47%), and seven objective responses among the 24 treated with tamoxifen (29%). The treatment was well tolerated. These results support the hypothesis that adjuvant therapy, whether hormonal or chemotherapy, may make patients less responsive to subsequent treatment.
authors: Division of Medical Oncology B, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Bajetta
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Zilembo
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Buzzoni
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Noberasco
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Celio
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Bichisao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000735:Androstenedione; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C014594:formestane; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate