How some men could benefit from estrogen patches

Key Points:

• The US is currently facing a shortage of estrogen patches, affecting menopausal women who rely on hormone therapy, while a new study reveals potential benefits of these patches for men with prostate cancer.
• A recent New England Journal of Medicine study found that transdermal estradiol (estrogen patches) slightly improved three- and five-year metastasis-free survival rates in prostate cancer patients compared to luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone (LHRH) antagonists.
• Estrogen patches caused fewer hot flashes (44% vs. 89%) but more breast enlargement (85% vs. 42%) compared to LHRH antagonists, highlighting a trade-off in side effects.
• Beyond cancer treatment, estradiol may support brain health by enhancing neuroplasticity, reducing inflammation, and improving brain cell communication.
• Additional advances in prostate cancer include promising results from the antidiabetic drug pioglitazone in slowing cancer growth and AI tools improving diagnostic accuracy, with early screening crucial as men who skip it face a 45% higher mortality risk.