Norethisterone acetate (SH420) in advanced breast cancer

Abstract

Norethisterone acetate (SH. 420) has been used in 154 patients with advanced breast cancer, and a 41% objective remission obtained. Certain clinical factors enable selection of patients most likely to respond. Hence, those with predominantly local disease showed an 82.6% benefit while bony or visceral deposits did poorly. Rapidly evolving disease (disease-free interval under 2 years) benefitted in. 21.3% whilst of those with longer time factors 59.6% responded. Patients under 55 years showed a 27.0% response rate compared with 48.0% over this age. By combining these factors groups of patients with response rates ranging from 96% down to 8% could be identified. Norethisterone would thus seem to be the agent of first choice in certain advanced breast cancers and without value in others.