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Prostate Cancer Therapy
Scientists at University of Tennessee, Health Science Center detail research in prostate cancer therapy
November 5th, 2009
A report, 'Survival outcomes in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy as primary or salvage treatment for localized or advanced prostate cancer: 20-year single-centre experience,' is newly published data in Bju International. In this recent report, researchers in the United States conducted a study "To evaluate the overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) in men receiving primary androgen-deprivation therapy (PADT) or salvage medical ADT (SADT) for prostate cancer. After Institutional Review Board approval, we retrospectively reviewed patients receiving ADT for prostate cancer between July 1987 and June 2007." "Variables included age at diagnosis and ADT induction, race, PSA level before ADT, ADT schedule (continuous/intermittent), clinical/pathological stage, hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRCP) status, PADT or SADT, and deaths. In all, 548 men were analysed. The mean age at diagnosis and ADT induction were 70.1 and 72.3 years, respectively, and 321 (58.6%) were African-American. The median PSA level before ADT was 16.3 ng/mL. ADT was administered continuously in 497 (90.7%) patients; 342 (62.4%) received PADT while 206 (37.6%) received SADT. At mean (range) follow-up of 81.8 (2.1-445) months, 98 (17.9%) deaths occurred; 31 (31.6%) were cancer-specific. The OS and DSS in the PADT and SADT groups were not significantly different (p=0.36 and p=0.81, respectively). Mortality rates/distributions were similar between groups (p=0.68). Multivariate predictors of OS and DSS included age at diagnosis (p=0.03) and ADT induction (p=0.009), tumor stage (p <0.001), and PSA level at ADT induction (p=0.01). Progression to HRPC worsened OS and DSS (both p<0.001). PADT and SADT prolong survival in men with prostate cancer. HRPC portends a poor DSS. Age at diagnosis and ADT induction, PSA level before ADT, and disease stage predict both OS and DSS in this population," wrote C.J. DiBlasio and colleagues, University of Tennessee, Health Science Center. The researchers concluded: "However, most men died from causes unrelated to prostate cancer, thus questioning the true value of ADT in prolonging patient survival." DiBlasio and colleagues published their study in Bju International (Survival outcomes in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy as primary or salvage treatment for localized or advanced prostate cancer: 20-year single-centre experience. Bju International, 2009;104(9):1208-14). For additional information, contact C.J. DiBlasio, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Dept. of Urology, Memphis, TN USA.. Publisher contact information for the journal Bju International is: Blackwell Publishing Inc., 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA. Keywords: United States, Memphis, Prostate Cancer Therapy, Hormones, Oncology, Prostate Cancer, Prostatic Neoplasms, Therapy, Treatment. This article was prepared by NewsRx editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, NewsRx.com.
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