Drug Table - Hormone Therapy Flashcards
Prednisone (Meticorten) Class
Glucocorticoids
Prednisone (Meticorten) Mechanism
Inhibit mitosis in lymphocytes
Prednisone (Meticorten) Therapeutics
ALL; combination for Hodgkin’s, non-
Hodkin’s, multiple myeloma, and CLL
Dexamethasone (Decadron) Class
Glucocorticoids
Dexamethasone (Decadron) Mechanism
Inhibit mitosis in lymphocytes
Dexamethasone (Decadron) Therapeutics
Reduces edema in brain and spinal
cord tumors with radiation therapy
Tamoxifen (Soltamox) Class
Selective
estrogen-receptor
modulators
(SERMs)
Tamoxifen (Soltamox) Mechanism
Competes with estradiol for binding to
estrogen receptor
Tamoxifen (Soltamox) Therapeutics
ER-positive breast cancer, or as
adjuvant therapy following primary
breast tumor excision; prevention of
breast cancer in high-risk patients
Tamoxifen (Soltamox) Important side effects
Hot flushes, hair loss; increased
risk of endometrial cancer;
increased risk of thromboembolic
events
Tamoxifen (Soltamox) Other side effects
Nausea and vomiting
Fulvestrant (Faslodex) Class
Selective
estrogen-receptor
downregulators
(SERDs)
Fulvestrant (Faslodex) Mechanism
Binds with much higher affinity (>100-fold)
to estrogen receptor than tamoxifen,
inhibiting dimerization, increasing
degradation, and reducing overall ER levels
Fulvestrant (Faslodex) Therapeutics
Posmenopausal women with ERpositive
metastatic breast cancer
Aminoglutethamide (Cytadren) Class
Aromatase
inhibitors
Aminoglutethamide (Cytadren) Mechanism
Inhibits function of aromatase
Aminoglutethamide (Cytadren) Therapeutics
Relatively weak, used against breast
cancer
Aminoglutethamide (Cytadren) Imp side effects
Significant
Anastrozole (Arimidex) Class
Aromatase
inhibitors
Anastrozole (Arimidex) Mechanism
Inhibits function of aromatase
Anastrozole (Arimidex) Therapeutics
First-line for ER-positive breast cancer
in postmenopausal women
Letrozole (Femara) class
Aromatase
inhibitors
Letrozole (Femara) Mechanism
Inhibits function of aromatase
Letrozole (Femara) Therapeutics
ER-positive breast cancer in
postmenopausal women
Exemestane (Aromasin) class
Aromatase
inhibitors
Exemestane (Aromasin) Mechanism
Steroidal inhibitor of aromatase
Exemestane (Aromasin) Therapeutics
ER-positive breast cancer in
postmenopausal women
Leuprolide (Lupron) class
GnRH analogs
Leuprolide (Lupron) Mechanism
Binds GnRH receptor; inhibits release of
FSH & LH
Leuprolide (Lupron) Therapeutics
Androgen ablation therapy, along with
AR blockers
Goserelin (Zoladex) Class
GnRH analogs
Goserelin (Zoladex) Mechanism
Binds GnRH receptor; inhibits release of
FSH & LH
Goserelin (Zoladex) Therapeutics
Androgen ablation therapy, along with
AR blockers
Flutamide (Eulexin) Class
Nonsteroidal
androgen-receptor
blockers
Flutamide (Eulexin) Mechanism
Competes with androgen for AR binding
Flutamide (Eulexin) Therapeutics
Androgen ablation therapy, along with
GnRH analogs
Bicalutamide (Casodex) Class
Nonsteroidal
androgen-receptor
blockers
Bicalutamide (Casodex) Mechanism
Competes with androgen for AR binding
Bicalutamide (Casodex) Therapeutics
Androgen ablation therapy, along with
GnRH analogs
