Action Of Megestrol Acetate On Mouse Thymus Cells In Vitro

Abstract

Megestrol acetate (17 α-acetoxy-6-methyl-pregna-4, 6-diene-3, 20-dione), also known as megace, is a synthetic orally active congener of the natural steroid progesterone. It is a white crystalline solid with a molecular weight of 384.5. Figure 1 depicts the structure of megestrol acetate. Synthetic progestins, such as megestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone, are used in the palliative treatment of advanced breast and endometrial carcinomas. The patients are mostly postmenopausal women who have conditions that are inoperable, recurrent, and metastatic (PDR, 1992). It is important to note that accepted treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are still preferred. Nevertheless, megestrol acetate exhibit partial or complete antitumor response.