Cancer Drugs – Hormones and Hormone Antagonists

Hormones are chemicals that cells secrete into the bloodstream. They have an effect on some organ or other type of cell. The concept of hormones was first defined scientifically by Scottish physician Sir George Thomas Beatson. Beatson lived near sheep and cattle farms all his life, and probably knew about a typical practice of farmers at that time in which a cow’s ovaries were removed shortly after it gave birth to a calf in order to keep the cow lactating (producing milk) indefinitely.

In 1878, Beatson demonstrated changes in milk production in rabbits after he removed the ovaries,which suggested the idea of “one organ holding control over . . . another and separate organ” of the body. Specifically, he recognized that this information could holdpromise for the treatment of breast cancer. When he tested his idea by removing the ovaries of advanced breast cancer patients, he often saw improvement. Beatson had discovered the role of the female hormone, estrogen, in breast cancer even before the existence of the hormone was known. His work ultimately led to the use of modern-day hormone therapies.

ANTICANCER HORMONE DRUGS

The body uses hormones to regulate many functions, including growth, digestion, sexual development, and reproduction, among others. Because of their diverse activity in the body, hormonally active drugs can have several therapeutic uses.

Many normal cells in the body grow and perform their regular functions in response to the presence of particular hormones. For example, the cells lining a woman’s uterus proliferate in response to hormones released at the time of ovulation, and male testicular tissues produce sperm in response to the presence
of hormones. Unfortunately, tumors sometimes arise from these hormone-sensitive cells. This can result in tumor tissue that grows vigorously in the presence of hormones and even depends on these hormones for its growth. Anticancer hormone therapy takes advantage of these characteristics by limiting, in different ways, the availability of hormones to the cells.

In both normal and cancer cells, hormones regulate which genes in the cell are stimulated to produce the cell’s proteins and structures.

Hormones are carried into the cell, where they interact with hormone receptors. In fact, tumor cells can be tested to determine which hormones they have receptors for. When the receptor connects with the right hormone, the receptor stimulates genes to produce proteins that go on to perform their functions in the cell. Interfering with hormones at any step along the way ultimately interferes with cell behavior. In the case of hormone-sensitive cancers that depend on the hormone for their uncontrolled growth, interference can end the life of the cancer. Groups of drugs in this category include selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS), progestins (megestrol acetate), luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, and androgenic agonists. The cancer hormone based drugs works by regulating the hormone quantity and flow in your body therefor reducing the multiplication of cancerous cells.

We’ll continue treating this subject as we want our readers to be fully prepared and aware on how to fight against cancer and what are the treatments and couses of it. Read more on the next part of our cancer related drugs articles.

For your health,
The EremedyPharma Team.