SOME METABOLIC AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF METHYLANDROSTENEDIOL*

Abstract

Metabolic balance studies in 4 patients with various diseases showed that 12.5 mg./day to 100 mg./day of methylandrostenediol given intramuscularly, or 200 mg./day of the same substance given orally caused significant retention of N without producing virilizing signs. In 50 patients with cancer of the breast in advanced stages treated for periods ranging up to 450 days and at dosage levels of up to 80 g. of methylandrostenediol given parenterally or by mouth during these periods of therapy the palliative effect of this drug descr. previously was substantiated. Some evidence was found indicating that occasionally methylandrostenediol produced mild signs of virilization but never to the extent observed with testosterone. No evidence of salt or water retention was obtained. While definite signs of stimulated osteosynthesis were found in X-ray studies in 4 of the patients with bone metastases of cancer of the breast, none showed an increase of serum alkaline phosphatase. No increases of urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion were seen during therapy. The impression was gained that the beneficial effects of methylandrostenediol in the palliative treatment of cancer of the breast were more closely associated with the protein anabolic properties of this drug than with its androgenicity.