THE INFLUENCE OF ANDROGENIC AND ESTROGENIC SUBSTANCES ON THE SERUM CALCIUM

Abstract

The favorable reports¹of retardation of the growth of skeletal metastases from breast cancer following castration of premenopausal women suggested that similar results might be produced by injections of testosterone propionate. This clinical experiment was begun more than two years ago. Thirty-three patients with skeletal metastases from breast cancer were given doses of from 5 to 25 mg. of testosterone propionate in sesame oil one to three times a week for totals of ten to twelve doses. About one half of the patients obtained relief from pain, but there was neither clinical nor roentgenographic evidence of control of the disease in any patient. Because relief from pain had been obtained, 3 patients were subjected to more intensive therapy. The unexpected hypercalcemia and apparently increased growth of the metastases which followed massive doses of testosterone propionate and subsequent smaller doses of estrone are the main subjects of this report. <h3>REVIEW</h3>