[Estrogenic paradox: treatment of ulcerated or atrophic scirrhous carcinoma of the breast in elderly women. A method not to be forgotten].

Abstract

The authors report their experience in the treatment of advanced scirrhous carcinoma of the breast with estrogens only at the Curie Institute. Patients were elderly women in whom other forms of treatment were contraindicated because of local tumor extension or a poor general condition related to age. 32.5% of the patients responded favorably (out of a total of 40 patients). Mean duration of treatment was 21.5 months. Dosage varied according to efficacy and side-effects. Both dienestrol and diethylstilbestrol were used with no preference for one or the other. Serious side-effects were relatively infrequent and minor side-effects either resolved or improved significantly when dosage was reduced or treatment discontinued. Considering the present widespread use of antiestrogens and the systematic detection and dosage of intratumoral hormone receptors, the authors stress the advantages of this seemingly paradoxical effect of estrogens and underline the need for comparative studies.

• Authors: C Alamowitch, F Marchal, J P Pilleron
• Journal: La semaine des hopitaux : organe fonde par l'Association d'enseignement medical des hopitaux de Paris (Sem Hop) Vol. 58 Issue 45 Pg. 2635-8 (Dec 09 1982) France
• Vernacular Title: Le paradoxe oestrogénique: le traitement du squirrhe ulcéré ou atrophique du sein chez la femme âgée. Une méthode à ne pas oublier.
• PMID: 6297059 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Estradiol Congeners

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous (drug therapy, pathology)
• Aged
• Atrophy
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Estradiol Congeners (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Ulcer (drug therapy)