What is "nilutamide"

n. An antiandrogen medication used in the treatment of advanced-stage prostate cancer.

Nilutamide (brand names Nilandron ( US), Anandron ( CA)) is a synthetic, non-steroidal antiandrogen (NSAA) used in the treatment of advanced-stage ( metastatic) prostate cancer. It was developed by Roussel, first introduced in 1987 and was the second NSAA to be marketed, with flutamide preceding it and bicalutamide following it in 1995. It was not introduced until 1996 in the United States.1 Because most prostate cancer cells rely on activation of the androgen receptor (AR) for growth and survival, nilutamide can slow the progression of the disease and extend life in men with prostate cancer.

Nilutamide shows unique and unfavorable tolerability and toxicity profiles, most importantly a high incidence of interstitial pneumonitis (which can progress to pulmonary fibrosis, a potentially fatal condition), and this has limited its clinical use. From a safety standpoint, bicalutamide is clinically preferred not only over nilutamide (due primarily to interstitial pneumonitis) but also flutamide (due to a high risk of hepatotoxicity) in choice of NSAA.