Deflazacort and fluoximesterone in advanced, pretreated breast cancer
Fornasiero, A.; Ferrazzi, E.; Aversa, S.M.; Daniele, O.; Ghiotto, C.; Sileni, V.C.; De Besi, P.; Fiorentino, M.V.
Tumori 78(4): 266-269
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8916 PMID: 1466084 Document Number: 388785
A very low simple, low dose, orally administered regime (10 to 15 mg of fluoximesterone + 6 mg of deflazacort daily for periods of 1 to several months) resulting in mild-acceptable toxicity (essentially some weight gain) determined subjective improvement in 2/3 of 34 evaluable patients (out of 38 treated) and an objective measurable tumor reduction in 1/3, although most patients had been previously treated with chemotherapy and hormone treatment and proved primarily or secondarily refractory. The receptor status at the beginning of fluoximesterone + deflazacort treatment was not known, except in one negative-receptor patient, who responded to the combination after becoming resistant to tamoxifen (see photo). In some patients the condition of hormone refractoriness would suggest a no-treatment policy, but a trial with this regime is always convenient as it may improve both duration and quality of life.