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Androgen Deprivation

Meaning

Androgen deprivation is a clinical strategy that involves significantly reducing the levels or blocking the action of androgens, which are male sex hormones like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, within the body. This therapeutic approach is most commonly employed in the management of hormone-sensitive cancers, particularly prostate cancer, where androgen signaling promotes tumor growth. Achieving this state necessitates either surgical or pharmacological intervention to suppress the primary sources of these steroid hormones. The goal is to inhibit the trophic effects of androgens on target tissues and thus slow the progression of the disease. It represents a foundational principle in hormonal oncology, underscoring the critical role of endocrine signaling in cellular proliferation.