Hormonal Therapy for Cancer

Hormonal therapy for cancer is hormone therapy used against cancer and is one of the major approaches of medical oncology, alongside cytotoxic chemotherapy and targeted therapy. It works by manipulating the endocrine system, either by giving specific hormones, particularly steroid hormones, from outside the body, or by giving drugs that block the production or activity of such hormones. Because steroid hormones can strongly drive gene expression in certain cancer cells, changing hormone levels or activity can stop those cancers from growing or even cause the cancer cells to die. Surgical removal of hormone producing organs, such as the ovaries or testes, can also serve as a form of hormonal cancer therapy.