Effect of one-month treatment with vaginal promestriene on serum estrone sulfate levels in cancer patients: a pilot study

Maturitas. 2012 May;72(1):93-4. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.01.017. Epub 2012 Feb 18.

Abstract

Vaginal promestriene was tested in gynecological cancer patients who suffered from severe vaginal dryness and dyspareunia. This form of estrogen has a low level of vaginal absorption and proved to be effective for vaginal atrophy.

Method: 17 patients were treated with a 10mg soft vaginal suppository daily for one month. Plasma levels of estrone sulfate (E1S), used as the marker of overall estrogenicity, were measured by liquid chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry.

Results: Mean E1S levels changed from 533 (22-2920) to 374 (81-856) pg/ml (p=0.39).

Conclusion: In highly symptomatic gynecological cancer patients the level of circulating estrone sulfate was not significantly affected by vaginal promestriene treatment overall, but a wide range of levels was noted pre and post treatment in individual patients.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Atrophy
  • Dyspareunia / blood
  • Dyspareunia / drug therapy
  • Dyspareunia / etiology
  • Estradiol / administration & dosage
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Estradiol / therapeutic use
  • Estrogens / metabolism
  • Estrogens / pharmacology
  • Estrogens / therapeutic use*
  • Estrone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Estrone / blood
  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / blood
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / complications*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Suppositories
  • Vagina / drug effects*
  • Vagina / pathology
  • Vaginal Diseases / blood
  • Vaginal Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Vaginal Diseases / etiology

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Suppositories
  • Estrone
  • Estradiol
  • promestriene
  • estrone sulfate