Trial of aminoglutethimide vs hydrocortisone as second-line hormone treatment of advanced breast cancer

In a randomised trial of second line hormone therapy 56 postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer received low dose aminoglutethimide (AGT) 125 mg twice daily without hydrocortisone (27 patients), or hydrocortisone (HC) 20 mg twice daily (29 patients). The two groups were well-matched for previous response to tamoxifen (TAM) therapy (AGT (35%) vs HC (32%)) and for relapse on adjuvant TAM. The mean age of the two groups was 69.2 years (AGT) and 63.2 years (HC). Liver metastases were present in 29% (AGT) and 33% (HC). The response rates were 11% (AGT) and 21% (HC). At 12 months the failure of treatment rate was 80% (AGT) and 70% HC. Survival at 12 months was 50% for both groups. At 12 months 5/12 survivors were still on AGT and 8/12 on HC. These preliminary findings have so far failed to show any statistical difference in tumour response, time to treatment failure or survival between low-dose AGT and HC as second-line hormone treatment post-tamoxifen in advanced breast cancer.