Dr. Katherine Lavigne Major in clinic with a patient - August 2022

Hormone therapy for uterine cancer

Because hormones like estrogen and progesterone can fuel some uterine and endometrial cancers, using drugs that mediate the levels of these hormones in the body can be effective in slowing and/or stopping cancer growth. Several types of hormone therapy may be used for uterine cancer and include:

  • Progestins. These man-made versions of the hormone progesterone can slow the growth of endometrial cancer.
  • Anti-estrogens. These drugs, such as tamoxifen and fulvestrant, reduce the amount of estrogen in the body.
  • Aromatase inhibitors. These drugs help to prevent the fatty tissue in the body from making estrogen.
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. These drugs work to suppress the production and release of estrogen in the ovaries.

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