Disease trajectories and its association with metabolic dysfunction of prostate cancer men following androgen deprivation therapy and the potential of pharmacological medication in preventing metastatic diseases.(2/3)

This is a 3-year study to examine the effectiveness of Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on prostate cancer patients and the potential of chemoprevention. ADT is the mainstay of palliative treatment for prostate cancer at any cancer stages and the most common treatment in Taiwan. However, the effectiveness of ADT has never been well documented. Conflict results of the effectiveness of ADT in localized prostate cancer found between US and Japan suggest the importance in establishing a treatment guideline for patients in Taiwan. In addition, metabolic syndrome, a common side effect induced by ADT, is associated with increasing risks in disease progression and mortality in prostate cancer patients. Epidemiologic evidence along with clinical and experimental data collectively suggest the approach to incorporate antiandrogen therapy with treatments of metabolic dysfunction induced by ADT might help cancer control. We are conducting a population cohort study to assess the long-term effect of ADT on men with localized prostate cancer. In the first year of the study, we utilized data obtained from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The result shows that ADT was associated with an increased risk in hypertension, hyperlipidemia and metabolic syndrome in prostate cancer patients in Taiwan. The risk of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and metabolic syndrome should be considered while deciding on ADT, especially those with the known history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Treatment may include medicating and monitoring patients, especially those with known history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia or those with a high risk of developing comorbidities.