Tamoxifen, aminoglutethimide and danazol: effect of therapy on hormones in post-menopausal patients with breast cancer

Abstract Gonadotrophins, oestradiol, androstenedione, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) were measured sequentially in 72 patients with advanced breast cancer receiving endocrine therapy of various types. Tamoxifen significantly reduced gonadotrophins but did not effect other hormones. Danazol also reduced gonadotrophins. Aminoglutethimide (AGT) reduced oestradiol and DHAS but had not effect on gonadotrophins. The effects of administering tamoxifen, AGT and danazol together (TAD) together were therefore examined. This combination reduced gonadotrophins, oestradiol and DHAS, but no further than tamoxifen and AGT alone. The degree and duration of hormone suppression were similar in both responders and non-responders to tamoxifen, AGT or TAD, though patients responding to AGT showed more complete suppression at the end of the course of treatment, perhaps because they were treated longer. On relapse, adequate gonadotrophin and steroid suppression was demonstrated in patients receiving tamoxifen and AGT respectively. We conclude that (a) response to endocrine therapy is unlikely to be related to the degree of endocrine suppression produced by the therapy, (b) combination endocrine therapy does not further reduce serum-hormone concentrations and (c) relapse is unlikely to be due to escape from the hormone-inhibitory effects of endocrine agents. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access options Subscribe to this journal Receive 24 print issues and online access 251,40 € per year only 10,48 € per issue Buy this article - Purchase on SpringerLink - Instant access to the full article PDF. 39,95 € Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Similar content being viewed by others Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Coombes, R., Powles, T., Rees, L. et al. Tamoxifen, aminoglutethimide and danazol: effect of therapy on hormones in post-menopausal patients with breast cancer. Br J Cancer 46, 30–34 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1982.161 Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1982.161