What medicine is effective for uterine cancer

What medicine is effective for uterine cancer? Uterine cancer often occurs in women aged 50 to 60 after menopause. It is one of the common cancers in the female reproductive system. What we usually call uterine cancer is actually endometrial cancer. Many patients often choose conservative methods such as drug treatment during treatment. So, what medicine is effective for uterine cancer?

The mechanism of action of progesterone in the treatment of endometrial cancer is currently believed to be that it directly acts on tumor cells, causing them to transform from malignant to normal endometrium, inhibiting the synthesis of cancer cell DNA and RNA, reducing division, thereby inhibiting the reproduction of cancer cells, and finally the tumor is replaced by hyperplastic or atrophic endometrium. Commonly used drugs include: medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, and 18-methylnorgestrel.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate: short-acting for oral administration, long-acting for injection, 200-400 mg, intramuscular injection, twice a week, for 3-6 months, or after 12 weeks, change to a maintenance dose of 200 mg/d. Oral administration is less commonly used, usually for the first 5-6 weeks, at least 3 mg per week, and then 400 mg/d for long-term use.

Megestrol acetate: 40-160 mg/d, oral for 12 weeks, change to maintenance dose of 500 mg, twice a week.

Progesterone acetate: 500 mg/d, intramuscular injection, once a day, change to 500 mg after 12 weeks, twice a week, for a total of 6 months. The objective efficacy of progestogen drugs in the treatment of endometrial cancer is 30-35%, and sustained remission and even cure is about 90%.

Progestogens are non-cytotoxic drugs with high safety and little toxicity. Common side effects include mild water and sodium retention and digestive tract reactions, and other side effects include hypertension, acne, breast pain, etc. 0.6% may have allergic reactions, but no death has been caused. Patients with impaired heart, liver, and kidney function should use them with caution.

Tamoxifen is a non-steroidal anti-estrogen drug that has a slight androgenic effect. It competes with estradiol for estrogen receptors (ER), occupies the receptors and acts as an anti-estrogen. After taking this drug, the PR in the tumor increases, which is conducive to progesterone treatment. It is usually used for advanced cases, postoperative recurrence or metastasis. It can be used alone (progesterone treatment is ineffective) or with pregnancy hormones, or combined with chemotherapy drugs.

For the treatment of uterine cancer, an appropriate treatment plan should be selected and formulated based on the patient's general condition, the extent of cancer involvement, and histological type. For early-stage patients, surgery is the main treatment, and adjuvant therapy is selected based on the results of surgical-pathological staging and the presence of high-risk factors for recurrence. For late-stage patients, comprehensive treatment such as surgery, radiation, and drugs is used.