Is Mitotane a chemotherapy drug?

Mitotane (Mitotane) is not a traditional chemotherapy drug, but a hormone disruptor commonly used to treat adrenocortical cancer (Adrenocortical Carcinoma, ACC) and diseases related to excessive adrenocortical hormone secretion. Its mechanism of action is different from traditional chemotherapy drugs, focusing more on controlling tumor growth and reducing adrenocortical hormone levels.

The mechanisms of action of mitotane include:

1.Inhibition of adrenocortical hormone secretion: Mitotan reduces the secretion of adrenocortical hormone mainly by destroying adrenocortical cells. This is critical in treating conditions such as Cushing's syndrome that are associated with excessive adrenocortical hormone secretion.

2.Control the growth of adrenocortical cancer: For ACC patients, mitotane can slow tumor growth. It helps control tumor progression by inhibiting the function of adrenocortical cells and reducing the secretion of corticosteroids.

3.Postoperative adjuvant therapy: Mitotane is often used as part of postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with adrenocortical cancer to reduce the risk of tumor recurrence. This helps extend patient survival.

Although mitotane is not a typical chemotherapy drug, it is similar to chemotherapy in some ways in that it is used to control the growth of cancer. However, it focuses more on the inhibition of adrenocortical hormone secretion rather than direct destruction of tumor cells.

Mitotane has not yet been launched in China, so patients cannot purchase it domestically and need to purchase it through overseas channels. There are original drugs and generic drugs abroad. The Turkish version of the original drug is about more than 7,000 yuan, followed by the European version of the original drug, which is about 9,000 yuan. There are also cost-effective generic drugs, mainly Laos and ASEAN generic drugs. The price is about more than 3,000 yuan. The ingredients of the original drugs and generic drugs are the same.