The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates the number of new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S. in 2009 at almost 200,000 with over 27,000 deaths. Drugs, surgery and radiation therapy are some of the treatment options open to patients with prostate cancer. There are several types of drugs used in the treatment of prostate cancer that can be used in combination with surgery and radiotherapy.
Hormone Therapy
According to the NCI, male sex hormones encourage the growth of prostate cancer. Drugs used in hormone therapy remove the male hormone or block its positive action on the cancer cells. Leuteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists block the testes from producing the male sex hormone called testosterone. Examples are leuprolide, goserelin and buselelin. Anti-androgens block the action of drugs that promote male sexual characteristics. They include flutamide and nilutamide. Drugs that block adrenals from producing more androgens include ketoconazole and glutethimide. In rare cases, estrogens, which switch on the female sexual characteristics, are also used.
Chemotherapy
Drugs that directly attack the cancer cells to kill them or stop them from growing are used in prostate cancer chemotherapy. They are typically used when hormone therapy fails. According to the National institutes of health (NIH), examples of such drugs are adriamycin, docetaxel, estramustine, mitoxantrone, paclitaxel and prednisolone.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy involves using drugs to boost the immune system or deliver derived components of the immune system to fight the cancer cells. One such drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in prostate cancer immunotherapy is Provenge, which was released in 2009.
Other Drugs used in Prostate Cancer Treatment
Other drugs are used in palliative therapy to treat the pain and discomfort arising from prostate cancer. These include analgesics like morphine and methadone, bisphosphonates for bony metastasis and steroids for bone pain and loss of appetite. Multivitamins and food supplements are also used to treat the adverse effects of the other modes of treatment.
