flutamidi

Flutamide, marketed in the United States under the brand name Eulexin, is a non-steroidal antiandrogen (NSAA) used in the treatment of androgen-dependent prostate cancer. It acts as a competitive antagonist of the androgen receptor, blocking the action of endogenous androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. By inhibiting AR signaling, flutamide slows the growth of androgen-dependent tumor cells and is commonly used in combination with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog to achieve chemical castration, or as monotherapy in selected cases.

Flutamide is administered orally and is rapidly absorbed. It is extensively metabolized in the liver to hydroxyflutamide, an active metabolite, as well as other metabolites. The drug and its metabolites are excreted in urine and feces. Dosing is typically 250 mg every eight hours, with adjustments based on clinical response and tolerance.

Adverse effects include dose-related gynecomastia, breast discomfort, hot flashes, nausea, and diarrhea. The most serious safety concern is hepatotoxicity, which can progress to fatal liver injury; liver function tests should be monitored, especially during the first months of therapy. Flutamide is contraindicated in pregnancy due to potential fetal harm and in patients with significant hepatic impairment or hypersensitivity.

In practice, flutamide has largely been superseded by newer antiandrogens with improved safety profiles, but it remains a reference compound in the NSAA class and is still described in historical and clinical contexts related to androgen deprivation therapy.