Disseminated breast cancer: Evaluation of hormonal therapy utilizing stilbestrol and medrogestone (AY‐62022) singly and in combination

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that a combination of an estrogen and a progestational agent increases the regression rate in metastatic breast cancer, 57 postmenopausal women were evaluated in a double‐blind randomized study, utilizing an estrogen alone, a progestin alone, and a combination of the two agents. Regression rates were 40% for stilbestrol alone, 22% for medrogestone alone, and 37% for the combination. Adding a potent progestational agent to an estrogen in this study failed to increase therapeutic benefit. Thus the hypothesis was rejected. Cardiovascular complications, including congestive heart failure, were common and seemed to result from the estrogenic compound; these were readily managed by salt restriction, diuretics, and, if necessary, digitalis. Copyright © 1972 American Cancer Society