Endocrinology & Diabetes

Hormones and Cancer

Hormones play a significant role in the development and progression of certain cancers. Hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers, rely on hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone to grow. For instance, in breast cancer, elevated estrogen levels can stimulate the growth of hormone receptor-positive tumors. Similarly, prostate cancer can be driven by testosterone. Understanding this relationship has led to targeted treatments, such as hormone therapies, which aim to block hormone production or receptor interactions to slow or halt cancer progression. These therapies can include medications like aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer or anti-androgens for prostate cancer. However, the effectiveness of hormone therapies varies among individuals, and not all cancers are hormone-dependent. Ongoing research continues to explore the complex interactions between hormones and cancer to develop more precise and effective treatments.