diethylstilbestrol; DES (Stilphostol)

Introduction

Tradename: Stilphostol (diethylstilbestrol diphosphate)

Indications

• palliative treatment of prostate cancer
  • 1-3 mg/day, increase in advanced cases
  • Stilphostol:
    • 50 mg TID
    • increase to > 200 mg TID
    • max dose is 1 gm
• palliative treatment of breast cancer: 15 mg/day
• Stilphostol is NOT indicated for treatment of any disorder in women

Adverse effects

• thrombophlebitis & venous thrombosis
• breakthrough bleeding
• nausea/vomiting
• induction of estrogen-dependent tumors
• women exposed in utero have increased risk of
  • infertility
  • preeclampsia
  • cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
  • breast cancer
  • clear-cell carcinoma

• drug adverse effects of estrogens

Drug interactions

• antidepressants, beta blockers, corticosteroids, theophylline increase therapeutic effect & toxicity
• antibiotics, barbiturates, phenytoin & rifampin decrease effectiveness of oral contraceptives

More general terms

• estrogen

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=448537