Acupuncture for hot flashes in patients with prostate cancer

Urology. 2010 Nov;76(5):1182-8. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2010.03.033. Epub 2010 May 21.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the effect of acupuncture on hot flash frequency and intensity, quality of life, and sleep quality in patients undergoing hormonal therapy for prostate cancer. Hot flashes are a common adverse effect of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.

Methods: Men who had a hot flash score > 4 who were receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer underwent acupuncture with electrostimulation biweekly for 4 weeks, then weekly for 6 weeks, using a predefined treatment plan. The primary endpoint was a 50% reduction in the hot flash score after 4 weeks of therapy, calculated from the patients' daily hot flash diaries. The hot flash-related quality of life and sleep quality and biomarkers potentially related to hot flashes, including serotonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, were examined.

Results: A total of 25 men were enrolled from September 2003 to April 2007. Of these, 22 were eligible and evaluable. After 4 weeks, 9 (41%, 95% confidence interval 21%-64%) of 22 patients had had a > 50% reduction in the hot flash score. Of the 22 patients, 12 (55%, 95% confidence interval 32%-76%) met this response definition at any point during the therapy course. No patient had a significant increase in hot flash score during therapy. A reduced hot flash score was associated with improvement in the hot flash-related quality of life and sleep quality.

Conclusions: Multiple placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated a 25% response rate to placebo treatment for hot flashes. Of the 22 patients, 41% had responded by week 4 and 55% overall in the present pilot study, providing evidence of a potentially meaningful benefit. Additional studies of acupuncture for hot flashes in this population are warranted.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Androgen Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Androgen Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / blood
  • Hot Flashes / etiology
  • Hot Flashes / metabolism
  • Hot Flashes / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / urine
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Orchiectomy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Quality of Life
  • Serotonin / blood

Substances

  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Serotonin
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide