Anti-androgen hormonal therapy for cancer and other diseases

Abstract

The development of targeted therapies has been a consistent goal for hormone-related diseases treatment. As a result of increased knowledge of the role of androgens in different diseases, anti-androgen treatment is becoming increasingly important in targeted therapy. Androgens play an important role in different disorders, therefore, androgen receptor signalling is a crucial factor in pathological conditions. The androgen receptor is a transcription factor activated by the testosterone metabolite 5α-dihydrotestosterone and regulates the expression of genes related to sexual differentiation, growth and survival of prostate cells, and to a certain extent, cancer progression. Herein, we review anti-androgen therapies in cancer and other selected diseases and provide examples where anti-androgen drugs can be used as both main and supportive treatments in the multimodal therapeutic scheme. Even in diseases with low serum levels of testosterone or DHT, anti-androgen therapy plays an important role in new treatments. Therefore, the use of anti-androgens is an appealing strategy in which to overcome resistance to primary treatment by assuring better therapy results. In this review, we take into account both older generation hormonal drugs and the new drug classes. Additionally, we review recent studies that suggest new anti-androgen agents have not entirely replaced some of the old standards.

Keywords: Androgens; Anti-androgen drugs; Breast cancer; Cancer therapy; Hormonal therapy; Prostate cancer.