What term describes a disease that does not respond to hormone therapy?

• A. Hormone-responsive
• B. Hormone-sensitive
• C. Hormone-resistant
• D. Hormone-stimulated

Answer: (C)

Hormone therapy is used when a cancer’s growth is driven by hormones like estrogen or androgens. If the cancer no longer slows or shrinks despite blocking those hormone signals, it is described as hormone-resistant. This means the tumor has adapted and can grow despite endocrine treatment, often requiring a change in strategy—such as switching to different therapies or adding targeted or cytotoxic options.

The terms hormone-responsive or hormone-sensitive imply that the cancer still responds to hormone-blocking strategies, showing some degree of tumor control. Hormone-stimulated would suggest the opposite, which isn’t accurate in this context. Therefore, the correct description for a cancer that no longer responds to hormone therapy is hormone-resistant.