Shorter Hormone Therapy May Be Enough For Many Men With Prostate Cancer

FINDINGS

A study co-led by investigators astatine the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that astir of nan benefits of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate crab hap wrong nan first 9 to 12 months. Extending therapy beyond that provides only mini further protection and increases nan consequence of different wellness problems, specified arsenic bosom aliases metabolic issues. Results show that nan perfect magnitude of ADT depends connected crab risk:

• Low-risk patients whitethorn not request ADT.
• Intermediate-risk patients use astir from 6 to 12 months.
• High-risk patients whitethorn use from up to 12 months, while very high-risk patients whitethorn require longer therapy.

BACKGROUND

ADT is simply a type of hormone therapy that is commonly fixed alongside radiation to slow nan maturation of prostate crab by lowering testosterone. While effective astatine controlling nan disease, semipermanent ADT tin origin broadside effects, including bony loss, musculus nonaccomplishment and cardiovascular problems. Current curen guidelines mostly urge 4 to 6 months of ADT for intermediate-risk patients and 18 to 36 months for high-risk patients, but nan optimal long has been unclear.

METHOD

Researchers conducted a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials successful Cancer of nan Prostate (MARCAP) Consortium using information from 10,266 men crossed 13 world objective trials. They assessed outcomes including wide survival, cancer-specific endurance and deaths from different causes, comparing different ADT durations. 

IMPACT

The findings item nan value of personalized curen plans for men pinch prostate cancer. Shorter courses of hormone therapy whitethorn beryllium capable for galore patients, reducing broadside effects while maintaining effectiveness. Physicians tin now usage patient-specific factors, including crab risk, wide health, property and preferences, to make much informed decisions astir ADT duration, improving some information and value of life.

"Prostate crab curen should not beryllium one-size-fits-all," said Dr. Amar Kishan, professor and executive vice chair of radiation oncology, co-director of the cancer molecular imaging, nanotechnology and theranostics program at nan UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and co-senior writer of nan study. "These findings thief doctors personalize therapy, balancing crab power pinch imaginable broadside effects and different wellness risks."