Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Int J Oncol. 2012 Jun;40(6):1755-62. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2012.1384. Epub 2012 Feb 21.
Progestin preparations are made of synthetic progesterone and have often been used for hormone therapy in gynecological patients with endometriosis or endometrial cancer. Hormone therapy using progestin is considered to be one of the effective means of treatment particularly when dealing with endometrial cancer (an estrogen-dependent tumor). Numerous reports have been published concerning its efficacy in advanced or recurrent cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer. Dienogest has been developed as a fourth-generation progestin for hormone therapy for endometriosis that can be used with high safety for long periods of time. In Japan, dienogest has been recommended as a first-line drug for endometriosis-associated pain. However, its antitumor activity has also been attracting close attention following a report that this drug suppressed the proliferation in vitro of endometrial cancer-derived cell lines which failed to respond to other progestins such as medroxyprogesterine acetate (MPA). The mechanism for antitumor activity of dienogest is considered to differ from the mechanism for antitumor activity of conventional progestin preparations used for treatment of endometrial cancer. This drug is expected to be clinically applicable as a new drug for the treatment of endometrial cancer.
孕激素制剂由合成孕激素制成，常用于子宫内膜异位症或子宫内膜癌的妇科患者的激素治疗。孕激素激素治疗被认为是一种有效的治疗方法，特别是在处理子宫内膜癌（雌激素依赖性肿瘤）时。已经发表了许多关于其在晚期或复发性非典型子宫内膜增生或子宫内膜癌中的疗效的报告。地诺孕素已被开发为一种用于子宫内膜异位症的第四代孕激素激素治疗药物，可长时间安全使用。在日本，地诺孕素已被推荐为治疗与子宫内膜异位症相关疼痛的一线药物。然而，在报告称该药物抑制了对醋酸甲羟孕酮（MPA）等其他孕激素无反应的子宫内膜癌细胞系的体外增殖后，其抗肿瘤活性也引起了密切关注。地诺孕素的抗肿瘤活性机制被认为与用于治疗子宫内膜癌的传统孕激素制剂的抗肿瘤活性机制不同。该药物有望作为一种治疗子宫内膜癌的新药在临床上应用。
