Estradiol Benzoate and Progesterone in Advanced Human-Breast Cancer

Nine of 15 patients, including one man, with advanced mammary cancer were improved by treatment with a combination of 50 mg. of progesterone and 5 mg. of estradiol benzoate administered intramuscularly every day. Seven of the 9 had previously responded to endocrine therapy (adrenalectomy, hypophysectomy, castration, estrogen or androgen). Serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations rose during the first 2 weeks of treatment in all the patients in whom the disease was ameliorated, but in only 2 of the 6 who were not improved. No toxic or adverse reactions were observed. Although the benefit secured by this treatment was sometimes short-lived, the results seemed sufficiently encouraging to merit more exhaustive trials.