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Taking people in United StatesPhase 2

Estrogen patches for quality of life in men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

Compares estrogen with standard hormone-lowering treatment in men with spread prostate cancer.

Key facts

Who runs it
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Where
Seattle, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Estrogen to Improve Quality of Life for Men With Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent Metastatic Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer, EQUIP Trial
Status
Recruiting
Phase
Phase 2
People taking part
60 people, planned
Starts
1 Dec 2026
Expected to end
1 Jun 2029
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitor
  • Transdermal Estrogen
  • Bone Scan
  • Computed Tomography
  • Dual X-ray Absorptiometry
  • Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Analog
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Survey Administration
  • Biospecimen Collection
Record updated
2 November 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for men with newly diagnosed or returned hormone sensitive prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It tests estrogen added to an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor against standard LHRH analogue treatment.

Age
18 years or older
Sex
Men only
Disease stage
Prostate adenocarcinoma confirmed by tissue test. Hormone sensitive, newly diagnosed or relapsed, with spread to other body parts seen on CT, PET, MRI or bone scan. At least one lesion that can be measured or checked again.
Earlier treatment
No earlier chemotherapy for hormone sensitive prostate cancer. No earlier LHRH analogue or next-generation androgen receptor-signaling inhibitor (for example abiraterone, enzalutamide). An earlier first-generation AR antagonist such as bicalutamide is allowed.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Blood clot, heart attack, angina, stroke or transient ischemic attack within 5 years
  • History of breast cancer
  • Symptomatic uncontrolled brain metastases
  • Active hepatitis B or C
  • Another cancer, unless treated with no sign of disease for 2 years or more

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 37 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Must be willing to provide informed consent prior to any study specific procedures
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Documented histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate
  • Patients must have evidence of newly diagnosed or relapsed metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer on CT, positron emission tomography (PET), MRI or bone scan
  • No prior chemotherapy for the treatment of hormone sensitive prostate cancer
  • No prior therapy with an LHRH analogue or next-generation androgen receptor-signaling inhibitor (e.g. abiraterone, enzalutamide, etc.). Participants may have initiated on a first-generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonist (e.g. bicalutamide) prior to enrollment
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL with no blood transfusion in the past 28 days (measured within 30 days prior to administration of study treatment)
  • Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10\^9/L (measured within 30 days prior to administration of study treatment)
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 10\^9/L (measured within 30 days prior to administration of study treatment)
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (measured within 30 days prior to administration of study treatment)
  • Patient must have creatinine clearance estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation (measured within 30 days prior to administration of study treatment)
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) with exception for Gilbert's syndrome (measured within 30 days prior to administration of study treatment)
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2
  • Patients must have a life expectancy ≥ 16 weeks
  • Patients must be willing and able to comply with protocol for the duration of the study including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations
  • At least one lesion (measurable and/or non-measurable) that can be accurately assessed at baseline by CT, MRI and/or bone scan and is suitable for repeated assessment. Subjects without bone metastases must have measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version (v) 1.1
  • Male patients and their partners, who are sexually active and of childbearing potential, must agree to the use of two highly effective forms of contraception in combination, throughout the period of taking study treatment and for 6 months after last dose of study drug(s) to prevent pregnancy in a partner

Who cannot take part

  • Other malignancy unless curatively treated with no evidence of disease for ≥ 2 years. Exceptions include adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
  • Patients with symptomatic uncontrolled brain metastases. A scan to confirm the absence of brain metastases is not required. Patient with spinal cord compression unless considered to have received definitive therapy for this and evidence of clinically stable disease for 28 days
  • Patients considered inappropriate to receive docetaxel chemotherapy by their treating provider
  • Use of corticosteroids at a dose equivalent to > 10 mg of prednisone daily
  • Planning to receive concurrent treatment with another systemic cancer therapy, aside from an LHRH analogue
  • Major surgery within 2 weeks of starting study treatment and patients must have recovered from any effects of any major surgery
  • History of viral hepatitis unless treated with curative intent and with a documented negative viral load
  • Prior history of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 5 years prior to enrollment in the study and not currently on systemic anticoagulation; Excluded due to risk of venous thromboembolism from hormone supplementation
  • Patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart failure or history of a prior myocardial infarction (MI) or cerebrovascular accident (stroke or transient ischemic attack) within 5 years of enrollment to the study; Excluded due to increased risk of cardiovascular events with estradiol supplementation
  • Patients considered a poor medical risk due to a serious, uncontrolled medical disorder, non-malignant systemic disease or active, uncontrolled infection. Examples include, but are not limited to, uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia, uncontrolled major seizure disorder, uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure [BP] ≥ 165/100), unstable spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome or extensive interstitial lung disease
  • Patients with a known hypersensitivity to transdermal estradiol, LHRH analogue, ARSIs or any of the excipients of these products
  • Patients with known active hepatitis (i.e., hepatitis B or C) due to risk of transmitting the infection through body or other body fluids
  • History of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, angina, stroke or transient ischemic attack within 5 years of enrollment to the study
  • Known history of protein C, protein S, antithrombin deficiency or other known thrombophilic disorders
  • History of breast cancer
  • History of systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition that could potentially interfere with compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule
  • Evidence of a pre-existing condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the patient at risk from estradiol therapy; Some examples include: history of blood clotting disorder, migraines with aura or other focal neurological symptom, angina (New York Heart Association grade III or higher)
  • Evidence of serious and/or unstable pre-existing medical, psychiatric or other condition (including laboratory abnormalities) that could interfere with patient safety or provision of informed consent to participate in this study
  • Involvement in the planning and/or conduct of the study

Where in United States

  • Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer ConsortiumSeattle, United StatesContact: Michael Schweizer, MDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

This phase II trial compares giving estrogen with an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor to standard of care luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues with an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor for improving quality of life for patients with hormone sensitive prostate cancer that is newly diagnosed or that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) and has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Standard prostate cancer treatment decreases hormone levels, specifically estrogen, in the body which can lead to hot flashes, fatigue, decreased bone health, and cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction. Transdermal estrogen may help to alleviate these symptoms. Androgen receptor signaling inhibitors work by blocking the effects of androgen (a male reproductive hormone) to stop the growth and spread of tumor cells. LHRH analogues are a type of androgen deprivation therapy that blocks the use of androgen by the tumor cells. Giving estrogen with androgen receptor signaling inhibitor may improve quality of life in men with newly diagnosed or recurrent metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Cohort 1 (LHRH agonist/antagonist and ARSI)Existing treatment, for comparison

    Patients receive standard of care LHRH agonist or LHRH antagonist according to the Food and Drug Administration approved dose and schedule in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Starting 4 weeks after initiation of LHRH agonist/antagonist, patients also receive ARSI per physician's choice for a minimum of 12 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with a median daily hot flash score ≥ 6 after 12 weeks of therapy may crossover to cohort 2. Patients undergo CT scan or MRI, bone scan, DEXA scan and blood sample collection throughout the study.

    Treatment: Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitor, Bone Scan, Computed Tomography, Dual X-ray Absorptiometry, Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Analog, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Survey Administration, and Biospecimen Collection

  • Cohort 2 (Estrogen and ARSI)Treatment being tested

    Patients receive estrogen via four transdermal patches BIW on days 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 of cycle 1. Once castrate levels of testosterone are confirmed (\< 20 ng/dL), patients receive three patches BIW on days 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 of cycles thereafter. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients whose testosterone levels rise above castrate levels at any time while receiving three patches BIW then increase to four patches BIW. Starting 4 weeks after initiation of transdermal estrogen, patients also receive ARSI per physician's choice for a minimum of 12 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan or MRI, bone scan, DEXA scan and blood sample collection throughout the study.

    Treatment: Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitor, Transdermal Estrogen, Bone Scan, Computed Tomography, Dual X-ray Absorptiometry, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Survey Administration, and Biospecimen Collection

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Estrogen for Quality-of-Life and Immune Modulation in Prostate Cancer (EQUIP)
Plain-language title
Estrogen patches for quality of life in men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancerGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
Record updated
2 November 2026