It is a widely understood that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)  causes adverse side effects and events.  Some researchers believe that the ADT-induced alterations in lipid and glucose metabolism may be race-dependent.

To evaluate this concern the researchers recruited Japanese men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer who also underwent at least one year of ADT.  They then examined changes in their lipid and glucose metabolism.

The men, who were recruited between January 2011 and August 2012 had their body weight, abdominal circumference, and had blood testing results recorded every three months.  They also had and visceral and subcutaneous fat measured by computed tomography before and after one year of ADT.

One hundred three pmen completed a one year course of ADT. Median age of the men was 74 (range, 50 to 85). Thirty-nine men underwent ADT with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist mono-therapy, while 64 men underwent ADT with LH-RH agonist plus bicalutamide.

The researchers found that even one year of ADT caused significant changes, especially in lipid metabolism, in these Japanese men with prostate cancer. Visceral and subcutaneous fat increased more than 30%. These changes were noticeable even in the first half of the one-year course of ADT.

Since these body changes increase the risk of critical cardiovascular events constant and appropriate monitoring and management is needed.

This research was conducted just on Japanese men.  However, the  results might be replicable in non-Japanese men and so should present a serious concern for all men on ADT.

Clinical trial information: UMIN000004709.

Citation: 

J Clin Oncol 32, 2014 (suppl 4; abstr 87)

Author(s): 

Koji Mitsuzuka, Atsushi Kyan, Kazuhiko Orikasa, Yasuo Fukushi, Hiroshi Aoki, Shintaro Narita, Takuya Koie, Minoru Miyazato, Narihiko Kakoi, Yoichi Arai, Michinoku Japan Urological Cancer Study Group; Department of Urology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Shirakawa Kosei General Hospital, Shirakawa, Japan; Kesen-numa City Hospital, Kesennuma, Japan; Yanagyu Clinic, Sendai, Japan; Sendai City Hospital, Sedndai, Japan; Department of Urology, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan; Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan; Department of Urology, Ryukyu University Graduate School of Medicine, Naha, Japan; Miyagi Cancer Center, Natori, Japan; Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan

 

Joel T. Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.