Progestin therapy for endometrial cancer: The potential of fourth-generation progestin (Review)

Kouji Banno, Iori Kisu, Megumi Yanokura, Kosuke Tsuji, Kenta Masuda, Arisa Ueki, Yusuke Kobayashi, Wataru Yamagami, Hiroyuki Nomura, Nobuyuki Susumu, Daisuke Aoki
International journal of oncology · 2012 · vol. 40(6) , pp. 1755–62 · doi:10.3892/ijo.2012.1384 · PMID:22366992 · W2115576921
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This review discusses dienogest, a fourth-generation progestin, and its potential as a novel, safe, and effective treatment for endometrial cancer due to its unique antitumor activity.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 · read from full text ⓘ

This review discusses progestin therapy for endometrial cancer, focusing on fourth-generation progestin as hormone-based treatment for estrogen-dependent tumors and for advanced or recurrent atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrial cancer. It summarizes prior reports of progestin efficacy and highlights dienogest, developed as a fourth-generation progestin for endometriosis-associated pain and noted for high safety with long-term use, while also emphasizing newly reported antitumor activity, including suppression of proliferation in vitro in endometrial cancer-derived cell lines that did not respond to conventional progestins like medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). The authors note that dienogest’s proposed antitumor mechanism is considered to differ from that of conventional progestins, but, as a review, the paper does not present new experiments or specific quantitative limitations beyond its literature-synthesis scope. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it specifically highlights dienogest, originally developed for endometriosis-associated pain, as a potential progestin with antitumor relevance in endometrial cancer.

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Abstract

Progestin preparations are made of synthetic progesterone and have often been used for hormone therapy in gynecological patients with endometriosis or endometrial cancer. Hormone therapy using progestin is considered to be one of the effective means of treatment particularly when dealing with endometrial cancer (an estrogen-dependent tumor). Numerous reports have been published concerning its efficacy in advanced or recurrent cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer. Dienogest has been developed as a fourth-generation progestin for hormone therapy for endometriosis that can be used with high safety for long periods of time. In Japan, dienogest has been recommended as a first-line drug for endometriosis-associated pain. However, its antitumor activity has also been attracting close attention following a report that this drug suppressed the proliferation in vitro of endometrial cancer-derived cell lines which failed to respond to other progestins such as medroxyprogesterine acetate (MPA). The mechanism for antitumor activity of dienogest is considered to differ from the mechanism for antitumor activity of conventional progestin preparations used for treatment of endometrial cancer. This drug is expected to be clinically applicable as a new drug for the treatment of endometrial cancer.
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Print ISSN: 1019-6439 Online ISSN: 1791-2423 International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease. International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment. Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery. Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine. Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology. Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology. International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis. Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology. Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition. Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease. An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine. Review Open Access - Authors: - Pages: 1755-1762|Published online on: February 21, 2012https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2012.1384 - Expand metrics + Progestin preparations are made of synthetic progesterone and have often been used for hormone therapy in gynecological patients with endometriosis or endometrial cancer. Hormone therapy using progestin is considered to be one of the effective means of treatment particularly when dealing with endometrial cancer (an estrogen-dependent tumor). Numerous reports have been published concerning its efficacy in advanced or recurrent cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer. Dienogest has been developed as a fourth-generation progestin for hormone therapy for endometriosis that can be used with high safety for long periods of time. In Japan, dienogest has been recommended as a first-line drug for endometriosis-associated pain. However, its antitumor activity has also been attracting close attention following a report that this drug suppressed the proliferation in vitro of endometrial cancer-derived cell lines which failed to respond to other progestins such as medroxyprogesterine acetate (MPA). The mechanism for antitumor activity of dienogest is considered to differ from the mechanism for antitumor activity of conventional progestin preparations used for treatment of endometrial cancer. This drug is expected to be clinically applicable as a new drug for the treatment of endometrial cancer. Copy and paste a formatted citation Spandidos Publications style Banno K, Kisu I, Yanokura M, Tsuji K, Masuda K, Ueki A, Kobayashi Y, Yamagami W, Nomura H, Susumu N, Susumu N, et al: Progestin therapy for endometrial cancer: The potential of fourth-generation progestin (Review). Int J Oncol 40: 1755-1762, 2012. APA Banno, K., Kisu, I., Yanokura, M., Tsuji, K., Masuda, K., Ueki, A. ... Aoki, D. (2012). Progestin therapy for endometrial cancer: The potential of fourth-generation progestin (Review). International Journal of Oncology, 40, 1755-1762. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2012.1384 MLA Banno, K., Kisu, I., Yanokura, M., Tsuji, K., Masuda, K., Ueki, A., Kobayashi, Y., Yamagami, W., Nomura, H., Susumu, N., Aoki, D."Progestin therapy for endometrial cancer: The potential of fourth-generation progestin (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 40.6 (2012): 1755-1762. Chicago Banno, K., Kisu, I., Yanokura, M., Tsuji, K., Masuda, K., Ueki, A., Kobayashi, Y., Yamagami, W., Nomura, H., Susumu, N., Aoki, D."Progestin therapy for endometrial cancer: The potential of fourth-generation progestin (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 40, no. 6 (2012): 1755-1762. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2012.1384

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal Endometrial Neoplasms Nandrolone Progestins Animals Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal Clinical Trials as Topic Drug Resistance, Neoplasm Endometrial Neoplasms Female Humans Nandrolone Nandrolone Nandrolone Progestins Progestins

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