System and method for diagnosis and treatment

A pharmaceutical composition for treating neoplasia in a patient which is characterized by expression of a glucocorticoid receptor, comprising:

• a) therapeutically effective amounts of at least one neoplasia-treating agent selected from, taxanes wherein the taxane is paclitaxel and docetaxel, and combinations thereof;
• b) a GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I
• wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms;
• R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl;
• R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3;
• X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH;
• and the interrupted line represents an optional bond;
• and
• c) optionally, at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
• wherein the neoplasia is selected from the group consisting of hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and combinations thereof.