Hydroxyflutamide is the active metabolite of the anti-androgen drug flutamide, which is used primarily in the treatment of prostate cancer. It acts as an anti-androgen by competitively binding to androgen receptors, blocking the effects of androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on cancer cells. This helps slow tumor growth and spread, and flutamide (yielding hydroxyflutamide) is often prescribed in combination with other therapies such as GnRH analogs, surgery, or radiation. Its action at the cellular level prevents androgen receptor signaling, making it effective in managing advanced stages of the disease. Hydroxyflutamide itself is commonly used in research settings to study hormone-dependent cancers, androgen receptor mechanisms, and endocrine disruption.