Acupuncture for the Alleviation of Hot Flashes in Men Treated With Androgen Ablation Therapy

Ashamalla, Hani; Jiang, Ming L.; Guirguis, Adel; Peluso, Francesco; Ashamalla, Mark

doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.01.025

« Previous Next »International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics
Volume 79, Issue 5 , Pages 1358-1363, 1 April 2011

Acupuncture for the Alleviation of Hot Flashes in Men Treated With Androgen Ablation Therapy

Presented in part at the American Society of Clinical Oncologists meeting Chicago, IL 2008.

Hani Ashamalla, M.D., F.C.C.P.
- Radiation Oncology Department, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Brooklyn, NY
- Reprint requests to: Hani Ashamalla, M.D., F.C.C.P., New York Methodist Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology 506 Sixth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. Tel: (718) 780-3677; Fax: (718) 780-3688
Ming L. Jiang, M.D.
- Acupuncture Section of New York Methodist Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Brooklyn, NY
Adel Guirguis, M.B.B.C.H., M.S.
- Radiation Oncology Department, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Brooklyn, NY
Francesco Peluso, B.A.
- Radiation Oncology Department, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Brooklyn, NY
Mark Ashamalla, B.A.
- Radiation Oncology Department, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Brooklyn, NY

Received 10 November 2009; received in revised form 15 December 2009; accepted 6 January 2010. published online 03 June 2010.

Purpose

Hot flashes are common side effect due to androgen ablation therapy (AAT). The utility of acupuncture for hot flashes in men has not been thoroughly studied. We prospectively studied the effect of acupuncture in men with hot flashes.

Methods and Materials

The study was approved by internal review board. Seventeen men with hot flashes and history of AAT for prostate cancer were enrolled. Three men declined participation before receiving any treatment. A hot flash score (HFS) was used to measure daily hot flashes. The composite daily score was calculated as the product of frequency × severity. The baseline daily scores were compared with scores taken at 2 and 6 weeks and at 8-month average follow-up.

Results

No side effects were encountered during, immediately after treatment, or at 8 months. The mean initial HFS was 28.3; it dropped to 10.3 (p = 0.0001) at 2 weeks posttreatment, 7.5 (p = 0.0001) at 6 weeks, and 7.0 (p = 0.001) at 8 months. Clinical improvement for each patient is defined as the percent decrease in the mean HFS at each time point. The mean improvement at Weeks 2 and 6 was 68.4% (mean HFS decreased from 37.409 to 11.836, p = 0.001) and 89.2% (mean HFS decreased from 37.409 to 4.05, p = 0.0078) respectively. The improvement at 8 months was 80.3% (mean HFS decreased from 37.409 to 7.385, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Acupuncture provides excellent control of hot flashes in men with a history of AAT. The absence of side effects and the durable response at 8 months are likely to be appealing to patients. Prospective randomized study is warranted to further evaluate this modality against medical therapy.

Acupuncture, Hot flashes, Hot flash score, Prostate cancer, Hormonal therapy