EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTINUOUSLY ADMINISTERED ESTROGEN ON THE PROSTATIC CARCINOMA
1978 Volume 69 Issue 12 Pages 1552-1561
Details
1978 Volume 69 Issue 12 Pages 1552-1561
Ninety-two patients with prostatic carcinoma who were treated at Tokyo Medical and Dental University between 1960 and 1971 were reviewed. Patients except stage A were expected to take estrogen (hexestrol 30-60mg per day) continuously throughout their life. All patients were followed up completely until their death or over 6 years as of December 31, 1977. The results were summarized as follows:
1) The average age of patients was 70 years old (range: 53 to 90). The distribution of patients by stage was: stage A- 6 cases (6%), stage B- 18 cases (20%), stage C- 38 cases (41%) and stage D- 30 cases (33%).
2) In spite of our intention to maintain accurate treatment, the average administration rate (the number of days which a patient exactly took the medicine divided by the number of days while they were observed) was only 49%.
3) The effect of estrogen to prolong the life in patients with prostatic carcinoma was proved in the cases with the administration rate over 70%·Only 37% of all patients filled this condition.
4) Among 15 cases of early carcinoma (stage A and B) treated every year over 40% of the annual administration rate(the amistration rate of each years after the beginning of the treatment), no one died of the carcinoma. On the contrary, 4 (25%) of 16 cases who did not maintain every year the rate of 40% died of carcinoma within 2 years after the treatment was discontinued.
5) Of 50 advanced carcinoma (stage C and D) treated every year at the annual administration rate, over 40%, 10 cases (20%) died within 2 years without any reaction to estrogen, and 5 cases (10%), relapsing after a few years of remission, died of carcinoma in following years. The other 70% of them were thought to be estrogen-sensitive throughout their life, since they did not relapse while they were under the treatemnt.
