Gender hormone loss in cancer patients produces vasomotor symptoms: can they be therapeutically addressed with vagal modulators monitored for restored autonomic activity?

The CareTaker device is a clinically used FDA cleared plethysmograph that provides sufficiently accurate inter-beat interval measurements that are used to calculate the power spectral density (PSD). We have used it to study the hot flash and related vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in prostate cancer patients suffering from ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) induced symptoms. These pulse data collected may be suited for guiding a protocol of paced breathing combined with auricular directed stimulation combined with other vagal modulators for relief of VMSs. Presented here are initial findings of this platform indicating feasibility and an analytic approach to provide a targeted correction of disturbed parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic functions for cancer patients. An IRB approved protocol comparing this intervention to standard of care is being evaluated prospectively in the clinic.