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Hormones are natural substances produced by the body that
control reproduction, growth, and metabolism.
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Certain body tissues, such as breast
and prostate, require hormones to develop. When cancer
originates in these tissues, it responds to hormones.
This means that the cancer responds to hormonal manipulation,
which includes the administration of hormones, the withdrawal
of hormones, or interference with hormone function.
For example, by using chemicals that block the action
of these hormones, it is possible to slow down, or even
stop, the growth of cancer cells.
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Rarely given as a single agent to attempt to cure cancer, hormones
are often used to prevent or delay recurrence of cancer after
other modalities of treatment have removed the gross primary
tumor and chemotherapy or radiation therapy have treated systemic
and regional micrometastases.
An example is a breast cancer patient who had the primary
tumor and positive axillary nodes removed surgically, received
systemic chemotherapy and regional radiation, and was placed
on tamoxifen, a synthetic antiestrogen, to prevent or delay
recurrence.
Hormones can be administered orally, intravenously, or intramuscularly.
Surgery may also be used to prevent the body from producing
hormones. For example, a patient with prostate cancer may
have an orchiectomy to prevent the production of testosterone.
Some types of cancer may originate from organs that require
hormones to develop, but they may not be treated with hormonal
therapy. A sample of the tumor can be sent to a special lab
to determine if hormonal therapy is likely to be effective.
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