The present disclosure describes a method for preventing or treating an abnormal
mammary gland cytopathy characterized by
cell proliferation in a subject. The method comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of an
androgen agent in combination with an effective amount of an
aromatase inhibitor, increasing the concentration of the
androgen agent in serum to a level to increase the intramammary concentration of
androgen in the
mammary gland resulting from the action of 5 alpha-
reductase on the androgen agent, the increased intramammary concentration of the androgen induces inhibition of c-Myc and / or mTOR expression or activity in the
mammary gland associated with a lower intramammary concentration of the androgen. The increase in the
serum concentration of the androgen agent and the increase in the intramammary concentration of the androgen are maintained for a predetermined period of time without substantially increasing the concentration of the androgen in the serum of the subject. Furthermore, the use of the aforementioned androgen and
aromatase inhibitors for reducing the risk of
breast cancer progression to
hormone-resistant
breast cancer, reducing the risk of HER2-positive
breast cancer becoming insensitive to targeted HER-2 anti-
cancer drug therapy, and for inducing inhibition of c-Myc and / or mTOR expression and / or activity is also described. In embodiments, the androgen agent may be
testosterone and androgen 5 [alpha]-
dihydrotestosterone (DHT).