The Consumer’s Guide to Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer How do new medications aid weight loss and why are they so effective?

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)

the growth of prostate cancer by lowering your body’s testosterone levels.

can stop

Pituitary gland

Testicles

Prostate

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Testosterone fuels the growth of prostate cancer cells, which, without treatment, can spread throughout the body.

Pituitary gland

Testicles

Prostate

When the pituitary gland secretes luteinizing hormone–releasing hormones (LHRH), the testicles start to produce testosterone.

medications fall into one of two categories:

which are given as an injection or taken as a pill.

which are injected or placed under the skin as implants.

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ADT

LHRH antagonists,

LHRH agonists,

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prevent LHRH from binding to

receptors in the pituitary gland. This blocks the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), which stops the testicles from producing testosterone.

LHRH antagonists

Pituitary gland

Testicles

Prostate

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stimulate the pituitary gland to produce LH and other hormones that trigger a surge in testosterone.

LHRH AGONISTS

Pituitary gland

Testicles

This surge causes the pituitary gland to stop making LH, which then shuts down testosterone production in the testicles.

Replay

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Although these two medications work differently, the end result is the same: The testicles stop producing testosterone, causing the prostate cancer to shrink or stop spreading.