[Preliminary results of treatment of hormone-dependent metastatic carcinoma of the breast with the bromocriptin-medroxyprogesterone acetate combination].

A brief account of the concept of hormone dependence in breast neoplasia is followed by the presentation of results obtained with an association of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) and 2-bromo-alpha-ergocriptine (CB 154) in 14 women with metastatic cancer of the breast, hormone dependent due to the presence of the cytoplasmic receptor for 17-beta-oestradiol. All patients, in fertile or premenopausal stage, were subjected to prior surgical ovariectomy. MAP was given i.m. at a dose of 1 g/day for 30 days and then 150 mg/day. In the same time 2.5 mg CB 154 were administered every 6 hr per os. Evaluation in accordance with the criteria proposed by the Coop Breast Cancer Group showed that rapid improvement was obtained in all cases, persisting (at the time of writing) for a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 2 yr of observation. In addition, rapid disappearance of pain was noted, particularly in subjects with secondary bone lesions. Side-effects were in all cases of slight consequence and suspension of the treatment was never necessary. The mechanism of the two drugs and the advantages of their association are discussed.