Influence of progestins on serum hormone levels in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer--II. A differential effect of megestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate on serum estrone sulfate and sex hormone binding globulin.

Serum estradiol, estrone, estrone sulfate and sex hormone binding globulin were measured in 10 postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer receiving sequential treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate and megestrol acetate. Treatment with megestrol acetate caused a non-significant reduction in serum estradiol (mean reduction of 19%, 0.05 less than P less than 0.1) but significant reductions in serum estrone (mean reduction of 20%, P less than 0.02) and serum estrone sulfate (mean reduction of 54%, P less than 0.005) compared to treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate. In contrast, treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate reduced serum sex hormone binding globulin more compared to treatment with megestrol acetate (mean reduction of 69%, P less than 0.01). These findings suggest that the two progestins have differential effects on serum hormone levels. The finding that treatment with megestrol acetate causes a significant reduction in serum estrone sulfate level warrants further investigations of this potentially important mechanism of action of this drug in advanced breast cancer.