Androgen Biosynthesis Inhibitors And Androgen Receptor Antagonists

The document from 2004 discusses the role of androgens, specifically testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in various conditions such as prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, male pattern baldness, hirsutism, acne, and virilizing syndromes in women. It highlights that DHT is often responsible for the undesirable effects of androgens in adults. The article reviews the use of drugs that mitigate these effects through three mechanisms: antagonizing the androgen receptor, inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT, and suppressing the synthesis of testosterone. These anti-androgenic drugs are presented as therapeutic options for the aforementioned conditions.