Efficacy of megestrol acetate (megace) in the treatment of patients with early endometrial adenocarcinoma: our experiences with 21 patients.

Abstract

There are therapeutic dilemmas regarding fertility-preserving treatment among young women with well-differentiated endometrial carcinoma.
Twenty-one patients with stage IA well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma were enrolled in a prospective study. The treatment initiated with 160 mg/d of megestrol acetate. The patients underwent dilatation and curettage and hysteroscopy after 3 months, and in cases of normal pathology, the therapy continued for another 3-month period. In patients who did not respond to treatment, the dosage of the drug was doubled (320 mg/d), and the therapy continued for another 3 months. At the second time, patients who did not respond to treatment were recommended for hysterectomy, and in patients who responded to treatment, an additional 3 months of treatment with megestrol acetate (320 mg/d) was administered.
Our results showed a response rate of 85.71% (18 patients), and 3 patients underwent hysterectomy. The mean (SD) treatment duration was 8.85 (2.00) months (range, 6-12 months). The response to therapy was observed in 5 patients (27.78%) with a dosage of 160 mg/d, and the remaining patients with 320 mg/d. Pregnancy occurred in 5 patients (27.78%). Recurrence happened in 3 (16.67%) of 18 patients who responded to treatment who did not give a permit to undergo hysterectomy and received medication again. Two (66.67%) of these patients experienced remission again, whereas the other one was candidate for hysterectomy.
The results of this study show that, when an initial response is not achieved or when disease recurs, use of 320 mg/d seems to be associated with a better therapeutic response. Furthermore, serious complications were not observed with this dosage.