Hormonal agents are used to treat some cancers. An example would be:

Estrogen antagonists to treat breast cancer.

Estrogen antagonists are used to treat estrogen hormone-dependent cancer. such as breast carcinoma. A well-known estrogen antagonist used in breast cancer therapy is tamoxifen (Nolvadex). This drug. in combination with surgery and other chemotherapeutic drugs reduces breast cancer recurrence by 30 percent. Estrogen antagonists can also be administered to prevent breast cancer in women who have a strong family history of the disease. Thyroxine is a natural thyroid hormone. It does not treat thyroid cancer. ACTH is an anterior pituitary hormone. which stimulates the adrenal glands to release glucocorticoids. It does not treat adrenal cancer. Glucagon is a pancreatic alpha cell hormone. which stimulates glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. It does not treat pancreatic cancer.