Several prospective clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the efficacy of prophylactic ovarium ablation in the primary treatment of carcinoma of the breast. The results have varied and the follow-up periods have been rather short. A prospective randomized study was done at our institution from 1961 to 1966 to test the value of prophylactic oophorectomy in the treatment of carcinoma of the breast. The patients have now been studied for 17 to 22 years. Patients were randomized into two groups: a control group and a group treated by surgical castration. By December 1983 280 patients were evaluable, 154 in the control group and 126 in the oophorectomy group. One hundred and forty-nine patients died during the observation time. All but 11 patients underwent autopsy. There are no significant differences between the group regarding age, axillary node involvement, menstrual status, perinodal tumor growth and distribution in the different TNM stages. The results of the study did not demonstrate any significant differences in cure rate, survival time, recurrence free intervals or intervals between recurrence of the disease and death. The results were independent of nodal status, TNM classification and menstrual status of the patient. These findings do not support the use of prophylactic oophorectomy in the treatment of operable carcinoma of the breast in TNM Stages I and II, whereas no conclusion can be drawn regarding TNM Stage III as the number of patients in this stage is small.
Adult Aged