[Clinical evaluation of hot flushes developing during endocrine therapy for prostate carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
There are few clinical investigations on the hot flushes that develop during endocrine therapy for prostate cancer in Japan, although there are many reports in the Western countries. Therefore, we evaluated the incidence of hot flushes and the association between hot flushes and clinical characteristics of prostate cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy.


METHODS
Sixty-eight prostate cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy (LH-RH analog (group LH-RHA); 22 patients, LH-RHA + non-steroidal antiandrogen (group LH-RHA + NSAA); 20 patients, LH-RHA + steroidal antiandrogen (group LH-RHA + SAA); 8 patients, LH-RHA + estramustine phosphate (group LH-RHA + EP); 1 patient, bilateral orchiectomy (group O); 5 patients, O + non-steroidal antiandrogen (group O + NSAA); 11 patients, and O + steroidal antiandrogen (group O + SAA); 1 patient) were evaluated by a fixed questionnaire. The incidence of the hot flush, the association between hot flushes and the clinical factors, as well as the therapy of hot flushes including SAA and Kampo therapy were analyzed.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of hot flushes was 37% (36% in group LH-RHA, 45% in group LH-RHA + NSAA, 13% in group LH-RHA + SAA, 0% in group LH-RHA + EP, 20% in group O, 45% in group O + NSAA, 100% in group O + SAA). No significant association between the hot flushes and the clinical factors of the patients was observed. On the other hand, in 3 of 4 patients treated by SAA, hot flushes improved after 4 weeks. In 2 of 3 patients treated by Kampo, hot flushes improved after 4 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Hot flushes are the major side effect of endocrine therapy for Japanese prostate cancer patients. SAA and Kampo are thought to be effective for treatment of hot flushes.
Suzuki
Kazumi
K
Department of Urology, Sano Kosei General Hospital.
Kobayashi
Minoru
M
Tokue
Akihiko
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone