Endocrine responsive cancers of man.

Abstract

Research conducted as early as 1896 demonstrating the regression of metastatic breast cancer after oophorectomy pointed to the role of hormones in the origins and growth of certain cancers. Included among the endocrine-responsive diseases are breast endometrial prostate and kidney cancers and leukemia and lymphoma. In breast cancer ovarian estrogen appears to be the causative factor. Case-control studies suggest that oral contraceptives (OCs) increase the risk of breast cancer in nulliparous women women who use OCs prior to their 1st birth and those with a history of benign breast disease; at the same time other studies have found no association between breast cancer risk and exogenous hormones. There is a highly significant association between the presence of estrogen receptor in breast cancer patients and a positive response to endocrine therapy. Such patients who have positive axillary nodes benefit from the administration of tamoxifen at the time of mastectomy. The time from primary surgery to 1st recurrence of breast cancer is prolonged in these estrogen receptor determinations as a method for identifying treatment strategies. The relative superiority of various types of endocrine therapy--oophorectomy adrenalectomy and hypophysectomy androgen therapy estrogens progestogens glucocorticoids antiestrogens and aminoglutethimide combinations-- remains unclear giving the physician considerable latitude.