Medications of prostate cancer
Calutide (Generic Casodex) |
Bicalutamide is a man-made drug that is used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It is a type of hormonal therapy. Hormonal therapies interfere with the production or action of particular hormones in the body. Hormones are substances produced naturally in the body, where they act as chemical messengers and help control the activity of cells and organs. How it is givenBicalutamide is a tablet, which is taken once a day. How it worksMost prostate cancers rely on supplies of the male hormone testosterone (which is produced by the testes and adrenal glands) to grow. On the surface of the prostate cancer cells are proteins called receptors. Bicalutamide has a structure similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. It works by blocking and preventing testosterone from attaching (binding) to the receptors on the surface of the prostate cancer cells. The easiest way to understand the way bicalutamide works is to liken the process to that of a lock and key. The receptors are the lock and testosterone is the key. When testosterone comes into contact with the receptors it unlocks or activates the cancer cells to divide, and the tumour grows. Bicalutamide imitates the action of testosterone and fits into the lock but the key does not turn and the cells do not divide. The bicalutamide remains in place and prevents the testosterone from reaching the cancer cells so they either grow more slowly, or stop growing altogether. The cancer may shrink in size. Bicalutamide may be used on its own to treat prostate cancer which is contained within the prostate gland, or the tissues around the prostate gland. In prostate cancer which has spread to other parts of the body, bicalutamide may be given on its own or together with injections of another type of hormonal therapy drug (goserelin, buserelin, triptorelin or leuprorelin). These drugs block the production of a hormone produced by the pituitary gland (luteinising hormone), which stimulates the production of testosterone. Possible side effectsEach person's reaction to any medication is unique. Many people have very few side effects with bicalutamide while others may experience more. The side effects described here will not affect everyone and may be different if you are having more than one drug. We have outlined the most common side effects, so that you can be aware of them if they occur. However, we have not included those that are very rare and therefore extremely unlikely to affect you. If you do notice any effects which you think may be due to the drug but which are not listed here, please discuss these with your doctor or nurse. You will see your doctor regularly while you have this treatment so that they can monitor the effects. This information should help you to discuss any queries about your treatment and its side effects with your doctor or nurse, as they are in the best position to help and advise you. Some people may have some of the following side effects:
Length of treatmentYour doctor will discuss the length of treatment that they feel is appropriate for your situation. It is often given for several months or years. If you forget to take your tablet don't panic levels of the drug in your blood will not change very much but try not to miss more than one or two tablets in a row. Remember to get a new prescription a couple of weeks before you run out of tablets and make sure you have plenty for holidays etc. Things to remember about bicalutamide tabletsKeep the tablets in a safe place where children cannot reach them, as bicalutamide could harm them. If your doctor decides to stop the treatment, return any remaining tablets to the pharmacist. Do not flush them down the toilet or throw them away. If you are sick just after taking the tablet tell your doctor as you may need to take another one. If you forget to take your tablet, do not take a double dose. Let your doctor or nurse know. Bisphosphonates are a class of therapeutic agents originally designed to treat loss of bone density. It has been shown that the primary mechanism of action is inhibition of osteoclastic (Cell breakdown) activity. Accumulating data show that these drugs are useful in diseases with propensities toward osseous metastases (Spreading of cancer to other parts). In particular, they are effective in diseases in which there is clear upregulation of osteoclastic or osteolytic activity such as breast cancer and multiple myeloma. Despite the fact that osseous metastases in prostate cancer manifest as osteosclerosis rather than osteolysis, studies now show that bisphosphonates are useful in the management of this disease. In particular, they have demonstrated an impact on osteoporosis associated with hormonal therapy, bone pain from metastases, and skeleton-related events from prostatic adenocarcinoma. This review briefly summarizes the available clinical data on the utilization of bisphosphonates in the disease of prostate cancer. |
Comments