The use of triethylenethiophosphoramide (Thio-TEPA) in the treatment of metastatic carcinoma of the breast.

Twenty-two patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated by a combination of testosterone and N,N',N'', triethylenethiophosphoramide (Thio-TEPA). All had undergone mastectomy and received radiation; six had had an oophorectomy and 12 had had oophorectomy and adrenalectomy. For its marrow-stimulating effect testosterone was given intramuscularly, 100 mg. daily for five days; then 100 mg. of depo-testosterone was given intramuscularly once a week. On the sixth day of treatment, 15 mg. of Thio-TEPA was given intramuscularly and repeated daily or every second day until a definite depression of the leukocyte and/or platelet counts occurred. To 15 patients a total dose of 200 mg. or more of triethylenethiophosphoramide was given. Thirteen patients improved subjectively and five of these improved objectively. The duration of improvement varied between one and 12 months. Treatment was most effective in patients with bony metastases.