How to Improve Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Endocrine Therapy?

Women receiving endocrine therapy for the treatment or prevention of breast cancer commonly report vasomotor symptoms. Current treatments (gabapentin, low-dose antidepressants, acupuncture, lifestyle interventions, and complementary products like black cohosh) have not been very effective. In an industry-supported, phase 3 study, Cardoso et al. examined the effectiveness of the investigational drug elinzanetant in 474 women with moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms who were receiving endocrine therapy to treat or prevent breast cancer. Elinzanetant is a neurokinin (NK)-targeted therapy that specifically antagonizes NK-1 and NK-3 receptors, which are implicated in declining estrogenic activity that occurs with natural menopause or antiestro…