Hormone therapy for prostate cancer: a patch with estrogen
A patch for the treatment of prostate cancer has been created
The results of the work carried out by researchers from Imperial College London, led by Ruth Langley, are published in the latest issue of the journal Lancet Oncology: Cardiovascular outcomes in patients with locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer treated with luteinising-hormone-releasing-hormone agonists or transdermal oestrogen: the randomised, phase 2 MRC PATCH trial (PR09).
Various methods are used in the treatment of prostate cancer, including hormone therapy, radiation therapy, treatment with focused high–intensity ultrasound and removal of the prostate along with seminal vesicles. Hormone therapy is used to reduce testosterone levels, which in most cases contributes to accelerated tumor growth. Such treatment for advanced prostate cancer can slow down the growth of malignant formation and even reduce it.
In recent years, injections of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (LHRHa) agonist have been used as hormone therapy, which helps to reduce the level of testosterone in the patient. However, such treatment has a number of side effects, including osteoporosis, bone thinning and diabetes.
While developing a new treatment for prostate cancer, Langley and her colleagues decided to use estrogens to lower testosterone levels in patients. Such therapy was used earlier, in the 1960s of the XX century, but later it was abandoned due to side effects, including thrombosis and stroke.
According to the authors of the work, the harm from the use of estrogens was associated with the way they were used – patients took hormones in the form of tablets (orally). Then estrogens in high concentrations got into the liver, which led to the appearance of side effects. With the introduction of hormones through the skin – with the help of a patch – this can be avoided.
The effectiveness of the estrogen patch was proven in the second phase of clinical trials conducted by Langley and her colleagues. To participate in the research, scientists selected 254 volunteers suffering from progressive (localized or metastatic) prostate cancer. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the first of them included 85 people who underwent traditional therapy (LHRHa injection), the second – 169 people who used patches. The study lasted for three months, additional monitoring of patients continued for another year. The patches were changed twice a week; the concentration of estrogens in them was 100 micrograms and was designed to be administered during the day.
According to the results of the work, the effectiveness of patches and traditional drugs was the same. Scientists did not find any side effects that were observed with oral administration of estrogen. In addition, a year after completing the course, the risks of cardiovascular diseases were higher in patients from the first group - their cholesterol and glucose levels were higher than in patients from the second group.
"Our new research proves that we can use patches or gels with estrogen to treat prostate cancer without significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke," Langley explained.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru06.03.2013