Hypophysectomy in the treatment of metastatic mammary cancer

The results of hypophysectomy in 343 patients with metastatic cancer of the breast are presented. These results indicate that hypophysectomy is a practical, worthwhile therapeutic procedure to be recommended in the management of these patients. Certain factors which influence the response to hypophysectomy are discussed. The most reliable index for predicting a favorable response to hypophysectomy is a previous favorable response to oophorectomy in the premenopausal patient. Other factors, such as the response to hormone therapy, the duration of the cancer, the age of the patient, and the location and extent of metastases have some influence on the incidence of remissions, but are not particularly helpful in deciding on therapy for the individual patient. Hypophysectomy is recommended as the initial systemic treatment of choice in postmenopausal patients and in those who have had a previous favorable response from oophorectomy, when adequate facilities are available to perform this procedure.