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Summary Suppression of the secretion of prolactin, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) might be important in the growth regulation and treatment of breast cancer. Because oestrogens may counteract the anti-tumour effects of such treatment, the combination of an anti-oestrogen (tamoxifen), a somatostatin analogue (octreotide) and a potent anti-prolactin (CV 205-502) might be attractive. In this respect, we performed a first exploratory long-term study on the feasibility of combined treatment and possible clear differences in endocrine and anti-tumour effects during such combined treatment vs standard treatment with tamoxifen alone. Twenty-two post-menopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer (ER and/or PR positive or unknown) were randomized to receive either 40 mg of tamoxifen per day or the combination of 40 mg of tamoxifen plus 75 ig of CV 205-502 orally plus 3 x 0.2 mg of octreotide s.c. as first-line endocrine therapy. An objective response was found in 36% of the patients treated with tamoxifen alone and in 55% of the patients treated with combination therapy. Median time to progression was 33 weeks for patients treated with tamoxifen and 84 weeks for patients treated with combination therapy, but the numbers are too small for hard conclusions. There was no difference in overall post-relapse survival between the two treatment arms. With respect to the endocrine parameters, there was a significant decrease of plasma IGF-1 levels in both treatment arms, whereas during combined treatment plasma growth hormone tended to decrease and plasma prolactin levels were strongly suppressed; in some patients insulin and transforming growth factor a (TGF-a) decreased during the triple therapy. Although there was no significant difference in mean decrease of plasma IGF-1 levels between the two treatment arms, combined treatment resulted in a more uniform suppression of IGF-1. Therefore, the addition of a somatostatin analogue and an anti-prolactin may potentially enhance the efficacy of anti-oestrogens in the treatment of breast cancer owing to favourable endocrine and possible direct anti-tumour effects. Large phase IlIl trials using depot formulations (to increase the feasibility) of somatostatin analogues are warranted to demonstrate the potential extra beneficial anti-tumour effects of such combination therapy.

Between 1982 and 1984 studies were conducted into captan disappearance from the fruit of field- and greenhouse-grown tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). Captan was applied to field-grown tomatoes at 1.8 kg ha−1 a.i. in August 1982 and 1983, and to greenhouse tomatoes at 1.9 kg ha−1 in May 1983 and 1984. Initial residues in both cases were below 1.5 mg kg−1. Significant declines in residue occurred by day 2 (1983) or day 3 (1982) for field-grown tomatoes and residues were below 0.1 mg kg−1 by day 14 (1982) or day 15 (1983). The decline in field tomatoes was correlated with rainfall. With greenhouse tomatoes the residue did not significantly decline by day 15 in 1983 and significantly increased by day 15 in 1984.Key words: Tomato (field and greenhouse), Lycopersicon esculentum L., captan, residue decline

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