ABSTRACT
Estracyt, a conjugate of an alkylating agent with an oestrogenic sterol, was given in a dose of 420 mg daily to a group of 44 postmenopausal patients with very advanced breast carcinoma. Thirty-eight of these were in relapse following chemotherapy and 32 had evidence of distant metastases. Seventeen patients had an objective response and marked or complete alleviation of symptoms, four others had a useful symptomatic response but no beneficial effect was observed in the remainder. Three who had shown no response to previous oestrogen therapy also failed to respond to Estracyt as did all nine patients with hepatic metastases. Oestrogen receptor status and age within the postmenopausal group seemed to have no bearing on the result. Side-effects were minimal with nausea in 18 patients but in only two did this necessitate withdrawal of the drug. Bone marrow depression did not occur. Changes in acute-phase reactant proteins suggested that part of the Estracyt was de-esterified in the liver liberating oestrone but the low incidence of vaginal haemorrhage and the recalcification of bony metastases suggested that on the whole Estracyt behaves as an anti-oestrogen as well as an antimitotic.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Aged , Breast Neoplasms/analysis , Estramustine/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Menopause , Middle Aged , Nausea/chemically induced , Neoplasm Metastasis , Palliative Care , Receptors, Estrogen/analysis , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The outcome in 254 patients with all stages of breast cancer treated by combination chemotherapy is presented. All the patients were treated 10 or more years ago. The 10-year survival rate for Stages I and II combined is 60 per cent, in Stage III 19 per cent and in Stage IV 3 per cent. The combined rate in Stages I and II differed markedly according to hormonal status. In premenopausal patients the rate was 84 per cent compared with 42 per cent in postmenopausal patients.
