What are the indications and efficacy of mitotane?

1.Treatment of adrenocortical cancer:

The main mechanism of action of mitotane is to interfere with the mitochondrial function of adrenocortical cells, inhibit the synthesis and secretion of steroid hormones, and thereby control the growth of tumor cells. This property makes mitotane an effective drug for the treatment of adrenocortical cancer.

In clinical practice, mitotane is widely used to treat inoperable, functional and non-functional adrenocortical carcinomas. It helps reduce tumor size by reducing the production of cortisol and other steroid hormones, thus slowing the progression of the disease. In addition, mitotane can also relieve the symptoms of excessive hormone secretion caused by adrenocortical cancer, such as hypertension, hypokalemia, etc., and improve the quality of life of patients.

2.Cushing's Syndrome:

Mitotane, as a synthetic steroid antagonist, effectively controls the development of patient symptoms by inhibiting the function of adrenocortical cells and the synthesis of cortisol.

Mitotane significantly reduces cortisol secretion from adrenocortical cells, thereby lowering cortisol levels in patients. This helps relieve various symptoms caused by excessive production of cortisol in people with Cushing's syndrome.

With the reduction of cortisol levels, mitotane treatment can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of Cushing's syndrome patients, such as hypertension, obesity, etc. This helps improve the patient's quality of life. Mitotane treatment can also help prevent various complications that may occur with Cushing's syndrome, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. By controlling the progression of the disease, mitotane reduces a patient's risk of these complications.

References:

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/016885s025lbl.pdf