Prostate cancer is a hormonally driven cancer, and the management of this disease for many men is through suppression of testosterone production – called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).
Diagnosis, Incidence and Current Treatment Options in Prostate Cancer
Currently, most men on ADT are treated with medications that suppress hormone production which can cause dysfunctional thermoregulation and development of vasomotor symptoms (VMS), also known as hot flashes. Up to 75% of men on ADT experience VMS, resulting in high rates of distress and ADT treatment noncompliance, with approximately 20% of men with high-risk prostate cancer prematurely discontinuing ADT.1
Early pharmacokinetic studies in men and women with various NK3R antagonists have shown an inhibitory effect on the levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone. However, the degree of effect relative to a therapeutic goal of castrate levels of testosterone (≤ 50ng/mL) remains unexplored.2,3
A non-hormonal treatment to lower testosterone levels and manage induced VMS is needed as estrogen is contraindicated for the management of VMS in patients with hormone-positive tumors, including breast and prostate tumors.
References
- Trinity Partners 2020
- Challapalli, Amarnath, et al. “Evaluating the Prevalence and Predictive Factors of Vasomotor and Psychological Symptoms in Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Hormonal Therapy: Results from a Single Institution Experience.” Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology, Elsevier, 21 Mar. 2018
- Prague J. et al. Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonism rapidly improves vasomotor symptoms with sustained duration of action. Menopause. 2018 Aug; 25(8): 862–869.