Oral high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment for recurrent breast cancer.

Oral high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) treatment (600, 800, 1200 mg/day or changed dosage) was given to 49 patients with recurrent breast cancer from January 1979 to December 1992. The overall response rate to MPA was 38.8% (19/49). The response rate in the soft tissue was significantly higher compared with that in bone metastases or in visceral metastases. MPA was effective on patients both with or without previous treatment. Several side effects were recognized, but they were mild and tolerable. These results demonstrate that MPA is effective when used as first line or second line treatment.