Premium
Single‐drug parenteral estrogen treatment in prostatic cancer: A study of two maintenance‐dose regimens
Author(s) -
Stege Reinhard,
Carlström Kjell,
Collste Lars,
Eriksson Ambjörn,
Henriksson Peter,
Pousette Åke,
von Schoultz Bo
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.2990140211
Subject(s) - medicine , estrogen , prostate cancer , drug , cancer , prostate , oncology , chemotherapy , pharmacology
Treatment of 17 patients with prostatic cancer with 320 mg polyestradiol phosphate (PEP) as intramuscular injections every fourth week suppressed serum testosterone (T) values to orchidectomy levels within 1 month, and serum estradiol‐17β (E 2 ) rose to a mean level of 2,456 pmol/liter after 6 months. Following 6 months of treatment, the PEP dose was reduced to 80 mg/4 weeks in 9 and 160 mg/4 weeks in eight patients. Mean T levels increased significantly after dose reduction in both groups and were above the upper orchidectomy limit at 1 month after dose reduction in the 80 mg group. Mean T levels, however, remained below this level at 5 months in the 160 mg group. Dose reduction caused a rise in gonadotropin levels in the 80 mg but not in the 160 mg group. While 320 mg/4 weeks may be a suitable initial dosage, doses ≪ 160 mg/4 weeks are insufficient as maintenance dosages if orchidectomy values of T are required.