Hormonal therapy of gynecologic cancers.

Progestins produce objective responses in about 30% of unselected patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the uterus. Selection of patients for treatment based on the presence of progesterone receptors may increase the probability of a response. There is little evidence to support a role of hormones as adjuvants in the primary management of poor-risk patients or in combination with chemotherapy. Antiestrogens may have a role as secondary agents in adenocarcinoma of the uterus, and progestins may have a role as secondary agents in ovarian cancer.