Vaginal estriol to overcome side-effects of aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Objective Aromatase inhibitors are essential as endocrine treatment for hormone receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Menopausal symptoms are often aggravated during endocrine treatment. We investigated whether vaginal estriol is a safe therapeutic option to overcome the urogenital side-effects of aromatase inhibitors. Serum hormone levels were used as the surrogate parameter for safety.

Methods Fasting serum hormone levels of ten postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving aromatase inhibitors were prospectively measured by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassays and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry before and 2 weeks after daily application of 0.5 mg vaginal estriol (Ovestin® ovula), respectively.

Results Two weeks of daily vaginal estriol treatment did not change serum estradiol or estriol levels. However, significant decreases in levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone (p = 0.01) and luteinizing hormone (p = 0.02) were observed. Five out of six breast cancer patients noticed an improvement in vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia.

Conclusions The significant decline in gonadotropin levels, indicating systemic effects, has to be kept in mind when offering vaginal estriol to breast cancer patients receiving an aromatase inhibitor.

Key words:

• BREAST CANCER
• VAGINAL ESTRIOL
• AROMATASE INHIBITOR
• VAGINAL DRYNESS
• DYSPAREUNIA

Conflict of interest  The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Source of funding  This investigation was supported by a research grant from Privatstiftung für Brustgesundheit, Vienna, Austria.