Antihormone therapy

Antihormone therapy
Specialtyendocrinology

Antihormone therapy is a type of hormone therapy that suppresses selected hormones or their effects, in contrast with hormone replacement therapy, which encourages hormone activity.

The suppression of certain hormones can benefit patients with certain cancers because certain hormones prompt or help the growth of a tumor.[1] This is especially true in cancers relating to the sex organs.[2]

Hormones are made by glands and circulated through the bloodstream.[3] Hormones may act as a signal to cells to grow by attaching to them.[3] Antihormone therapy blocks hormones from sending these messages to cells. If a diagnostic test shows cancer in places with hormones attached, drugs may be prescribed to the patient to block the receptors and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.[3] Most antihormone therapies are administered by pill for 5 to 10 years after surgery.[4]

  1. ^ "Definition of antihormone therapy - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms". Archived from the original on October 16, 2007.
  2. ^ Parczyk, Karsten and Martin R. Schneider. The future of antihormone therapy: innovations based on an established principle. Experimental Oncology. 14 December 1995 . 6 Jun 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "Breast Cancer Anti-Hormone Therapy | OSUCCC – James". The James - OSUCCC. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).