Treatment of Advanced Prostatic Carcinoma with Estracyt: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Sixty-five patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma that had not responded to conventional therapy were treated with Estracyt (N-mustard derivate of estradiol). Twelve other patients with poorly to moderately differentiated carcinoma were treated with this product from the very beginning. Estracyt was given intravenously in a dose of 300 mg a day for about 3 weeks, preferentially after establishment of an arterio-venous shunt in the lower arm, and later in a dose of 300 mg twice a week for 1–2 months. If the patient responded to treatment the drug was afterwards withdrawn for a varying period depending on the further course of the patient's condition. If no response was obtained within 3 week's treatment, other palliative therapy was given. About half of the patients treated experienced good palliation for up to 3 years, especially relief of the pain. The patients with low to moderately differentiated carcinoma not previously treated with estrogen responded very favourably to the treatment. Though the preparation has only minor side-effects it should not replace conventional treatment of prostatic carcinoma, but be reserved for advanced cases that have failed, or ceased, to respond to conventional therapy. Poorly differentiated carcinomas appeared to respond to primary treatment with this preparation. Objective changes in the form of decreasing acid phosphatases, regression of metastases and change in the histological picture of the lesion were observed during treatment. The mode of action of the preparation is still obscure.