Surgery Plus Medroxyprogesterone in Preventing Endometrial Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed atypical endometrial hyperplasia with recommended treatment with either:
• •* An immediate hysterectomy (Part A) OR
• •* A three-month delay prior to hysterectomy and a randomized choice of treatment with oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera) or medroxyprogesterone acetate suspension (Depo-Provera) during the 3 months (Part B with arms I and II)
• •Diagnosed by dilation and curettage, Novak curettage, Vabra aspirate or Pipelle endometrial biopsy
• •No recognized endometrial carcinoma
• •Must not be considered inoperable
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •Not specified
• •Performance status:
• •GOG 0-2
• •Life expectancy:
• •Not specified
• •Hematopoietic:
• •WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
• •Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• •Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• •Hepatic:
• •Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal
• •SGOT no greater than 3 times normal
• •Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal
• •Renal:
• •Creatinine no greater than 2 times normal
• •Cardiovascular
• •No prior thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic phenomena
• •No prior cerebrovascular disorders
• •Other:
• •No prior or concurrent malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •Not specified
• •Chemotherapy:
• •Not specified
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Radiotherapy:
• •Not specified
• •Surgery:
• •See Disease Characteristics