High dose Estetrol curbs hot flushes and improves QOl in prostate cancer patients on ADT

A new study found that high-dose fetal estrogen estetrol along with androgen deprivation therapy prevented the occurrence of hot flushes and improved quality of life and well-being in patients with advanced prostate cancer. The study results were published in the journal European Urology Open Science.  

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa) is accompanied by side effects affecting health-related quality of life (HRQL). Hence researchers conducted a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with advanced PCa to assess the effects of the fetal estrogen estetrol (E4) on symptoms related to estrogen and androgen deficiency, and on HRQL measured using the validated Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) questionnaire. 

Patients receiving ADT were randomly assigned at a 2:1 ratio to daily treatment with a high dose of E4 (HDE4; n = 41) or placebo (n = 21) for 24 wk. The primary outcome was the effect of HDE4 cotreatment on hot flushes (HFs). Secondary outcomes were the Q-Man questionnaire for evaluation of the effect on estrogen and androgen deficiency symptoms, and the FACT-P questionnaire for evaluating HRQL.