Exploration for drug therapy in endometrial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the therapeutic effect of three drugs, i.e., hydroxyprogesterone caproate (HPC), Tamoxifen (TMX) and Aminoglutethimide (AG), in the treatment of endometrial carcinoma.


METHODS
The patients were collected by double-blind method and classified into 6 groups (3 groups used single drug and 3 groups used combined drugs) at random. The patient was given assigned drug therapy for 10 days according to her group after being admitted to the hospital. Operations were performed 7-10 days after drug therapy. Plasma FSH, LH, E2 and P were measured by standard radioimmunoassay of WHO. ER and PR in cancer tissues were examined by enzyme linked histochemistry. Cancer tissues obtained before and after drug therapy were examined pathologically.


RESULTS
The values of FSH, LH and E2 decreased and that of P increased after single drug therapy in the group treated with HPC; and the values of FSH, LH, E2 and P all decreased in the groups treated with TMX and AG respectively (P < 0.05). The values of FSH, LH and E2 decreased to different extent in the groups treated with combined drugs. The changes of FSH and E2 are remarkable (P < 0.05). The value of P increased a little with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). PR and ER usually increased after treatment with TMX, but decreased with HPC or AG, or combined drugs. The pathological changes indicate that the tumors responded to all of the three drugs. The response to TMX was most significant, following which was HPC.


CONCLUSIONS
HPC and TMX are two drugs proved to be useful in endometrial carcinoma. AG also can be used to treat endometrial carcinoma. It adds a new drug to the drug therapy for endometrial carcinoma.
Zhang
X
X
Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Shanghai Medical University.
Cao
B
B
D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate