Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027627 (metastases)
 103,950 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

After a brief historical and experimental introduction, the methods of hormone-based therapy of breast cancer are outlined. It is emphasized that these treatments are only palliative, to be used in advanced cases with surgical, radio- or chemotherapy. The methods include ovariectomy, surgical in acute cases, and by radiation after menopause; complete or partial adrenalectomy; hypophysectomy with indwelling Yttrium 90; androgens (Drostanolone); progestagens; or combined estrogen-progestagens. Castration is suggested for the first treatment, then androgens, or androgens only in aged women. Estrogen-progestagen combinations can be tried in older women. Adrenale ctomy is not advised because it is too dangerous, with little benefit. Hypophysectomy sometimes helps when other hormone therapy is exhausted, but not in tumors known to be hormone resistant. Studies show that ovariectomy does not increase survival time, but lengthens the interval before metastases appear, although the evolution is then more rapid. 30-40% of breast cancers are hormone dependent or sensitive. Visceral and pulmonary metastases are less responsive, and liver and brain lesions almost never respond to hormones.
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PMID:[Hormone therapy of breast cancer]. 1233 27