medrogestone and Adenocarcinoma

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclophosphamide; Drug Synergism; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fluorouracil; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Humans; Medrogestone; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Ovarian Neoplasms; Parity; Pregnadienes; Progesterone; Progestins; Recurrence; Sarcoma; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Uterine Neoplasms

Since 1963 there have been 266 patients with cancer of the uterine fundus at the Medical University of South Carolina. Progestational agents were used to treat 54 but 10 received the drugs for less than 1 month. This report relates to the remaining 44. 34 were treated with Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate), 9 with Colprone (megestrone acetate), and 1 with Megace (megestrol acetate). Of the 34 patients treated with Depo-Provera 13 showed regression of the tumor; 3 of the 9 treated with Colprone showed regression. In an additional 11 (25%) of cases growth of the tumors was arrested. 7 of these were later found to have abdominal metastases; however, 3 were free of symptoms for over 43 months. A patient on Depo-Provera with lung metastases had recurrence after 62 months when treatment was reduced to every other week but when Colprone was then given, regression again occurred and has continued for almost 10 years. Another patient not responding to Depo-Provera did respond to Colprone. Average duration of regression was 27.7 months, of survival 31.1 months. Arrest of growth was 25 months in some; survival averaged 23.4 months. (The 1 Megace case was in this group.)y Those having progression of tumors lived an average of 9 months with the longest survival 24 months. Of the responders 8 lived from 44 to 111 months and 5 remain alive, 4 now showing no evidence of the cancer. Tumors with well-differentiated, slow-growing lesions were most likely to respond. Site of recurrence did not seem to influence the response. No contraindications were found to use of progestational agents in this type of cancer. Local reactions to the injections were few. Subjective response was frequent even though progression was taking place.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Administration, Oral; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Medrogestone; Medroxyprogesterone; Megestrol; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Progestins; Uterine Neoplasms