Hormone patches are as effective as injections for treating non-metastatic prostate cancer

PATCH, a large randomised trial (n=1,360) with a minimum follow‑up of three years has shown that oestradiol patches achieve castration‑level testosterone suppression with oncological outcomes equivalent to standard LHRH analogue injections in non‑metastatic prostate cancer. Overall survival and metastasis‑free survival rates were comparable between treatment groups. By maintaining physiological oestrogen levels, patches resulted in significantly fewer vasomotor symptoms and a lower incidence of fractures, though gynaecomastia occurred more frequently. These findings position transdermal oestradiol as a biologically rational, clinically effective, and potentially better‑tolerated option for androgen suppression.