Antiandrogens are a group of drugs which associated with intracellular androgen receptors (AR) to prevent or stop androgen effects on organs like:the hypothalamus, pituitary, the testes, the hair follicles, ovaries and the prostate gland, which are mainly targets of endogenous androgens. They are widely used to treat a numerous variety of clinical conditions or situation which are characterized by hyperandrogenism, for example: acne, hirsutsm, and prostate cancer.
The antiandrogens are classified in group as:
The steroidal antiandrogens bind not only the AR but also other steroid receptors, such as those for glucocorticoids and progestin, begins to nonspecific effects. Cyproterone has proven itself in many clinical trials to be highly useful for the treatment of prostate cancer, but is not FDA approved due to its hepatotoxicity and partial agonist activity.
