Is mitotane a chemotherapy drug or a targeted drug? What kind of anti-cancer method does its treatment mechanism belong to?

Mitotane is a chemotherapy drug mainly used to treat adrenocortical cancer. Different from targeted drugs, the therapeutic mechanism of mitotane belongs to a category of chemotherapy drugs. It exerts its therapeutic effect by affecting the growth and reproduction of cancer cells. Mitotane is essentially a steroid that can slow down tumor growth by interfering with the endocrine function of cancer cells and reducing hormone synthesis. It inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells by inhibiting the function of the adrenal cortex and interfering with the synthesis of hormones, especially cortisol and aldosterone.

As a chemotherapy drug, Mitotane mainly generates active metabolites through the metabolic process in the body. These metabolites can interact with the cell membrane and mitochondria of cancer cells and destroy their functions. Mitotane can reduce the nutritional support of tumor cells by reducing the levels of hormones secreted by the adrenal glands, thereby inhibiting the survival and spread of tumor cells. Through this "non-specific" effect, it can inhibit the growth of many types of tumors, but it is mainly used in the treatment of adrenocortical cancer.

Unlike targeted drugs, mitotane does not target specific cancer cell molecular targets. Targeted drugs precisely identify and act on specific targets in tumor cells, such as specific proteins or enzymes, thereby blocking tumor signaling pathways and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Mitotane does not have such high selectivity, and its mechanism of action is relatively broad, mainly relying on its intervention in cancer cell metabolism and hormone secretion. This is also the reason why some side effects of mitotane are more obvious during treatment.

Therefore, mitotane is not a targeted drug. Its anti-cancer method is mainly achieved by inhibiting the synthesis of tumor-related hormones and reducing the nutritional support of hormones to tumor cells. This makes mitotane very effective in treating certain types of cancer, especially adrenocortical cancer. However, due to its wide range of effects and many side effects, it needs to be used with caution under the guidance of a doctor.

Reference materials:https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB00648