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The Possibility of Predicting the Response of Patients with Early Breast Cancer to Subsequent Endocrine Ablation

Division of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.2, and Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London, S.E.1, England

Patients with breast cancer who excreted subnormal amounts of urinary androgen metabolites relative to the 17-hydroxycorticosteroids have a greater recurrence rate after mastectomy and a lesser remission rate following endocrine ablation than patients who excreted normal amounts of these compounds. There is suggestive evidence that response to subsequent adrenalectomy or hypophysectomy may be predicted at the time of mastectomy. The bearing of these results on prophylactic treatment is discussed.