PROGESTERONE AND PROGESTATIONAL COMPOUNDS IN THE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Various doses of progesterone in oil and of two progestational compounds (17α-hydroxy-19-nor-progesterone caproate and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone p-butoxyphenyl propionate) have been given to 15 patients with recurrent and/or metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma and to one patient with metastatic cervical adenocarcinoma, for periods of up to 27 weeks. Regression of lung metastases was noted in 4 of 13 patients, softening of pelvic tumour in 2 of 4, and histological alterations of tumour tissue in 4 of 5 patients. In the patient with metastases from a cervical adenocarcinoma, the disease progressed during the treatment. The significance of the observations is discussed.