[Possible indications for medroxyprogesterone in the management of breast cancer].

There are several possible uses of medroxyprogesterone acetate in the treatment of breast cancer: 1) contraception by trimestral intramuscular injection of medroxyprogesterone acetate in a low dose of 50 mg. This form of treatment is better indicated for young women who desire contraception and who are affected by breast carcinoma in its early stages; 2) assisting hormonotherapy by average dose of medroxyprogesterone acetate, i.e. 1 g a week, in the treatment of breast cancer whenever auxillary ganglia have already been invaded by the neoplasm; this treatment supersedes chemotherapy treatment which has several uncomfortable side effects; and 3) hormonotherapy with high dose of medroxyprogesterone acetate, i.e., 1 g per diem, by intramuscular injection in the treatment of well established and metastatic breast cancer. This treatment yields positive results in about 45% of cases, but it often causes abcesses at the site of injection because of the high concentration. Increase in body weight often occompanies the treatment.