Indication: Used as an add-on therapy following surgical or chemical castration due to prostate cancer
Pharmacology: Nilutamide is an antineoplastic hormonal agent primarily used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Nilutamide is a pure, nonsteroidal anti-androgen with affinity for androgen receptors (but not for progestogen, estrogen, or glucocorticoid receptors). Consequently, Nilutamide blocks the action of androgens of adrenal and testicular origin which stimulate the growth of normal and malignant prostatic tissue. Prostate cancer is mostly androgen-dependent and can be treated with surgical or chemical castration. To date, antiandrogen monotherapy has not consistently been shown to be equivalent to castration.
Mechanism Of Action: Nilutamide competes with androgen for the binding of androgen receptors, consequently blocking the action of androgens of adrenal and testicular origin which stimulate the growth of normal and malignant prostatic tissue.
Interactions:
DrugBank: Interactions for Nilutamide
Interactions for Nilutamide:
In vitro, nilutamide has been shown to inhibit the activity of liver cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes and therefore,
may reduce the metabolism of compounds requiring these systems.
Consequently, drugs with a low therapeutic margin, such as vitamin K antagonists, phenytoin, and theophylline, could
have a delayed elimination and increases in their serum half-life leading to a toxic level. The dosage of these drugs
or others with a similar metabolism may need to be modified if they are administered concomitantly with nilutamide.
For example, when vitamin K antagonists are administered concomitantly with nilutamide, prothrombin time should be
carefully monitored and if necessary, the dosage of vitamin K antagonists should be reduced.
Chemical IUPAC Name: 5,5-dimethyl-3-[4-nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-imidazolidine-2,4-dione
