The prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in primary breast cancer: results of a 10 year follow-up study.

In a study on 214 patients with primary breast cancer (median follow-up 8.5 yr, maximum follow-up 15 yr), EGF-R was negatively correlated to estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor, whereas no association was found with age, lymph node status, and tumor size. Initially, after a follow-up of 5 yr, there was a tendency to a significant association between EGF-R levels and tumor recurrence rate (p = 0.

Prognostic value of PS2 and cathepsin D in 710 human primary breast tumors: multivariate analysis.

Purpose: Evaluation of the prognostic value of cytosolic PS2 (pS2 protein) and cathepsin D in a large series of breast cancer patients by multivariate analysis taking into account steroid receptors and conventional prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: Prognostic factors were analyzed in 710 primary breast cancers (median follow-up, 4 years). PS2 and cathepsin D were measured by radiometric immunoassays.

Clinical breast cancer, new developments in selection and endocrine treatment of patients.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women, comprising an estimated 24% of all cancer cases and 18% of all cancer deaths. At least half of the patients with primary breast cancer will ultimately die by metastatic disease. The tumor characteristics, the natural course of the disease and the response to therapy vary strongly.

Weekly low-dose mitoxantrone plus doxorubicin as second-line chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer.

Weekly low dose mitoxantrone (3 mg/m2) plus doxorubicin (8 mg/m2) was administered as second-line chemotherapy to 33 patients with advanced breast cancer. Four out of 28 evaluable patients (14%) obtained a partial response with a median duration of 34 weeks (range 18-67+ weeks), while 8 patients (29%) showed stable disease with a median duration of 28 weeks (range 11+-60 weeks). Gastrointestinal toxicity and alopecia were mild.

Prognostic value of pS2 protein and receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF-R), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1-R) and somatostatin (SS-R) in patients with breast and ovarian cancer.

The prognostic value of EGF-R, IGF-1-R and SS-R, and of cytosolic estrogen-regulated pS2 protein, was studied in patients (pts) with primary breast and advanced ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer tissues were negative for pS2 (by immunoradiometric assay) IGF-1-R and EGF-R contents (by ligand binding assay, LBA) were of no or moderate prognostic value for breast cancer pts (n = 214). For advanced ovarian cancer pts, EGF-R content determined by LBA (n = 55) showed no prognostic value, whereas EGF-R status (n = 35) determined by immunohistochemistry (MoAb 2E9) significantly correlated with progression of disease (P less than 0.

Complete remission of a brain metastasis to third-line hormonal treatment with megestrol acetate.

The prognosis of patients with brain metastases from breast cancer is poor. Median survival after radiotherapy is 5-6 months. We report a patient in whom a complete response of a brain metastasis was induced by megestrol acetate at a daily dose of 160 mg orally.

Prognostic value of receptors for insulin-like growth factor 1, somatostatin, and epidermal growth factor in human breast cancer.

The prognostic significance, as well as the relationship with known prognostic factors in breast cancer, of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1-R), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), and somatostatin receptor (SS-R) was evaluated. IGF-1-R was positively correlated with estrogen receptor and age, but not significantly with progesterone receptor, lymph node status, and tumor size. EGF-R was negatively correlated to estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor, whereas no association was found with age, lymph node status, and tumor size.

Prognostic value of estrogen and progesterone receptors measured by enzyme immunoassays in human breast tumor cytosols.

Clinically significant cut-off values to discriminate between receptor-positive and -negative, and the prognostic value of estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) have not yet been established. We have therefore measured ER and PgR by EIA in cytosols from 205 primary breast cancer biopsies. Clinically significant cut-off values (30 fmol/mg protein for ER; 27 fmol/mg protein for PgR), as related to tumor recurrence (median follow-up, 47 months), have been established by isotonic regression analysis.

Induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil in locally far-advanced head and neck cancer.

Induction combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, 100 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, and 5-fluorouracil, 1,000 mg/m2/24-h infusion days 1-4, was applied in 76 patients with locally far advanced squamous-cell cancer of the head and neck.

Antiprogestins, a new form of endocrine therapy for human breast cancer.

The antitumor, endocrine, hematological, biochemical, and side effects of chronic second-line treatment with the antiprogestin mifepristone (RU) 486) were investigated in 11 postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer. We observed one objective response, 6 instances of short-term stable disease, and 4 instances of progressive disease. Mean plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (P less than 0.

The prognostic value and relationships of patient characteristics, estrogen and progestin receptors, and site of relapse in primary breast cancer.

Estrogen and progestin receptor levels (ER and PgR) in tumors from 506 patients with primary breast cancer diagnosed in 1979, 1980, and 1981 were measured by a Scatchard plot analysis. At a median follow-up time of 3.5 years the prognostic value of the receptor levels was evaluated and compared with other tumor and patient characteristics.

Endocrine effects of aminoglutethimide plus hydrocortisone versus effects of high dose of hydrocortisone alone in postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer.

Aminoglutethimide (Ag) has been used in different dosages with and without combined treatment with glucocorticoids for the suppression of peripheral plasma levels of steroidal hormones. In the present work we have estimated changes in peripheral steroid levels after 3 days of adrenal suppression with a 'physiological' daily dose of 40 mg hydrocortisone (H). Subsequently Ag (1000 mg daily) was added or the dose of H was doubled in order to study the efficacy of the suppression of oestradiol by these conditions during a 6-week period.

Investigations on the nutritional status of advanced breast cancer patients. The influence of long-term treatment with megestrol acetate or tamoxifen.

The nutritional status of three groups of postmenopausal women (age 41-80 yrs) with advanced breast cancer was investigated with special reference to vitamin B6. The interference of hormonal treatment was studied with respect to the progestin megestrol acetate (Group MA, n = 14) and the antiestrogen tamoxifen (Group TAM, n = 15) compared with untreated patients (Group U, n = 11). Healthy postmenopausal women served as controls (Group C, n = 16).

Tamoxifen therapy in premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer.

Forty-three premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer were treated with tamoxifen (2 X 20 mg daily) as first-line treatment. The patients were not selected on receptor status, which was known in only a few patients. Complete response was achieved in six patients and partial response was achieved in seven patients, for a total response rate of 30%.

Sequential treatment of metastatic breast cancer with tamoxifen after megestrol acetate therapy and vice versa (a retrospective study).

The progestin megestrol acetate and the anti-estrogen tamoxifen are used as effective drugs in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and have few side effects. The sequence and indications for use in practice still need to be defined. Of 219 postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer and measurable lesions, 136 were treated with megestrol acetate (MA) per os (180 mg daily) and followed by tamoxifen (TAM) (40 mg daily) in cases with progression, and 83 patients were treated with the inverse drug regimen.

Orchidectomy and oestrogens as secondary forms of treatment for metastatic prostatic cancer.

When in a patient with metastatic prostatic cancer progression of tumour growth occurs during first-line endocrine therapy the prognosis appears to be poor. In the literature there are only a few reports about the efficacy of second-line treatment with castration or oestrogens indicating a mean response rate of 15-20%. The most effective sequence of endocrine therapy has not been determined.

Endocrine effects of the combination of megestrol acetate and tamoxifen in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Six postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer, who responded to megestrol acetate after 6 weeks of treatment, were treated with the combination of megestrol acetate and tamoxifen during the next 6 weeks. The study was oriented towards the endocrine effects of this combination since it was known from our previous studies that megestrol acetate induces suppression of serum gonadotropins and of the pituitary-adrenal axis, a decrease of peripheral concentration of SHBG and of estradiol, and an increase of basal and TRH-stimulated plasma prolactin concentration. Tamoxifen, on the other hand, produces a decrease of prolactin and gonadotropins, whilst estradiol remains unaffected.

Anti-tumor and endocrine effects of chronic LHRH agonist treatment (Buserelin) with or without tamoxifen in premenopausal metastatic breast cancer.

Seventeen premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer were treated with the potent Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) agonist Buserelin as a first-line agent. Twelve patients (group A) were treated with Buserelin alone and five patients (group B) with the combination of Buserelin and tamoxifen from the start of treatment. In nine patients of group A tamoxifen was added to Buserelin later on because of tumor progression or recurrent peaks of plasma estradiol (E2).

Treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients with different dosages of megestrol acetate; dose relations, metabolic and endocrine effects.

Megestrol acetate (MA) is of therapeutic value in breast cancer patients. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of different dosages of MA on endocrine events potentially influenced by the drug in relation to plasma level of MA and clinical effects in patients with advanced breast cancer. Eighteen postmenopausal patients were randomly distributed over six groups to receive daily 90, 180 or 270 mg of MA (niagestin) orally in a cross-over study consisting of 3 periods of 6 weeks.

Progestin therapy in advanced breast cancer: megestrol acetate--an evaluation of 160 treated cases.

Progestin megestrol acetate treatment of 160 postmenopausal women with progressive metastatic breast cancer is evaluated. Objective remission was found in 48 patients (30%) and stabilization of disease occurred in 58 (36%) cases. In each of these response categories, the median time interval before subsequent progression took place was nine months.

Estrogen, androgen, glucocorticoid, and progesterone receptors in progestin-induced regression of human breast cancer.

A study was made of basic mechanisms involved in regression of breast cancer exposed to high levels of synthetic progestins. The possibility that progestins act on breast cancer by way of the progesterone receptor mechanism and subsequent increase of estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase activity could not be confirmed in this investigation. It is demonstrated that the progestins megestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate are strong competitors for steroids which bind specifically to androgen, glucocorticoid, and progesterone receptors, indicating that the progestins are able to bind to these receptors with high affinity.