Headlines
As reported by Doctor's Guide, December 8, 2009.
Men Taking ADT at Higher Risk for Heart Disease, Diabetes Regardless of Age
OXFORD, United Kingdom -- Men of all ages treated for prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy, specifically with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH), have an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online December 7 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Previous studies indicate that older men who take androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer are at an increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but the relationship between the 2 among men of all ages is unclear.
Nancy L. Keating, MD, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues conducted an observational study of almost 38,000 men of all ages who were diagnosed with local or regional prostate cancer in the Veterans Healthcare Administration from January 2001 through December 2004, with follow-up through December 2005.
Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess whether androgen deprivation therapy with GnRH agonists, oral antiandrogens, the combination of the 2, or orchiectomy were associated with diabetes, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death or stroke, after adjustment for patient and tumor characteristics.
Treatment with GnRH agonists was associated with statistically significant increased risks of incident diabetes (for GnRH agonist therapy, 159.4 events per 1,000 person-years versus 87.5 events for no androgen deprivation therapy).
"Additional research is needed to understand the effects of GnRH agonists for clinical settings where benefits have not yet been established, to identify populations of men at highest risk of complications associated with GnRH agonists, and to investigate strategies to prevent treatment-related morbidity," the authors wrote.
"Nevertheless, patients and physicians considering initiation of GnRH agonist treatment for local or regional prostate cancer should factor the potential increased risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease as they make treatment decisions."
In an accompanying editorial, Peter Albertsen, MD, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut said the study adds to the growing body of literature on androgen deprivation therapy. "With the growing number of men wrestling with rising PSA [prostate-specific antigen] values after treatment, we should organize appropriate trials and reflect carefully about the anticipated benefits and harm before initiating ADT treatment," he wrote.
SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute