Private MD News

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer may be dangerous in men with heart conditions

Category: Prostate

Following a positive PSA test for prostate cancer, many men are prescribed hormone therapy in addition to radiation treatments. However, a new study published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics shows that this may be a dangerous therapy approach for individuals with preexisting heart conditions.

Several recent studies have shown that in healthy men with prostate cancer, a combination of hormone therapy and radiation extends survival time, particularly among those who have moderate- to high-risk prostate cancer. However, the findings indicate the opposite for individuals who also have heart conditions.

Researchers from the Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer in Boston analyzed the medical records of nearly 1,400 men with prostate cancer who had a history of heart problems and were treated with radiation. Just under half of these individuals also received androgen deprivation therapy, a common hormonal treatment for prostate cancer.

The results showed that 31.8 percent of the individuals who received both were dead after five years, compared to just 19.5 percent of those who only received radiation.

The researchers said the finding could help direct the future of prostate cancer treatment in men with heart conditions.