Female hormone oestrogen slows the growth of prostate cancer Skin patches which deliver oestrogen into the blood may be a cheaper and safer treatment alternative for prostate cancer, a new study has revealed. The main treatment is injections of a chemical to cut levels of testosterone – often the cause of many prostate cancers - but it causes side effects.
The Imperial College London study in the Lancet Oncology compared patches and injections in 254 patients.
It found patches were safe and should avoid menopause-like side effects.
Using oestrogen to treat prostate cancer is a relatively well known treatment.
Both oestrogen and testosterone are very similar chemically, so ramping up the levels of oestrogen in the body can reduce the amount of testosterone produced - and slow prostate cancer growth.
However, taking oral oestrogen pills can cause significant health problems by overdosing the liver. The organ then produced chemicals which caused blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.
The preferred treatment is injections of a drug, LHRHa, which reduces the production of both oestrogen and testosterone. However, this has side effects similar to the menopause in women - resulting in poor bone health and diabetes.
Now scientists believe the patch could be the ideal treatment as it releases oestrogen through the skin.
Prof Paul Abel, from Imperial College London, told the BBC: "We're not claiming this is equivalent to current therapies yet, but it does look like we are getting castration levels of testosterone."
Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "It is unclear as yet if hormone patches could be an effective alternative to hormone injections, but we await with anticipation the results of the further trials planned which could in time offer men hope for the future."