Leucopoietic Effect of Calusterone (7 β, 17 α‐Dimethyltestosterone) in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer

Calusterone, a new anabolic, weakly androgenic testosterone derivative, found highly effective in women with advanced breast cancer, was studied for its peroral effect on white blood cell count (WBC). A significant rise in WBC occurred during treatment of 80 women, as compared both with a contol group of 21 untreated breast cancer patients and a similar group of 27 patients receiving Δ1-estololactone 1, 000 mg daily. Δ1-estololactone produced no significant change in WBC. The combination of 5-fluorouracil 500 mg i.v. once a week plus Δ1-estololactone 1, 000 mg a day by mouth in 28 patients produced significant mild leucopenia. The effect of androgens on leucopoiesis and the potential value of calusterone in leucopenia, in addition to its efficacy in breast cancer, is discussed.