How progestins prevent endometrial cancer.

This article discusses the role of progestational hormones in cancer of the endometrium in menopausal women and indicates the type of progestin and the doses which appear necessary to prevent anomalies of the endometrium. It is in fact established that the incidence of endometrial adenocarcinomas is augmented by the application of a continuous oestrogenic without countervailing progestational-stimulus. Progestogens have an antimitotic action on endometrial cells, which leads to reduction of the oestrogenic stimulus and the probability of the occurrence of tissue anomalies. However, it is probable, and theoretically possible, that the regular disintegration of the endometrium may be capable of removing the potentially anomalous cells before they develop into carcinomas. Any oestrogenic treatment, however, whatever the dose and mode of administration, is not more certain than any other. The association of a progestogen is necessary but the choice of the individual progestogen is dictated by custom or fashion. It seems that administration during 12 days per month in a manner designed to obtain rhythmic bleedings may be the best solution.