Prostate Cancer Survivors at Higher Risk of Developing Diabetes, Heart Disease: Study

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A new study suggests that prostate cancer survivors are at higher risk of dying not from cancer but from cardiovascular disease.

There are 3 million prostate cancer survivors in the Unites States who are likely to die from heart disease and not cancer, MedicaXpress reported. A new study published in Circulation suggests that heart diseases are the leading non-cancer cause of death among men who survived prostate cancer.

Following the results of the study, the Vanderbilt's Cardio-oncology program is focusing on modulating the risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in men, especially those using androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to treat their condition.

According to American Cancer Society, the goal of hormone therapy or ADT is to reduce the levels of male hormones called androgens or to stop them from affecting prostate cancer cells.

ADT is used when cancer spread too far to be cured by surgery or radiation, when cancer comes back after treatment, along with radiation therapy as initial treatment or before radiation to shrink cancer to make the treatment more effective.

"While ADT therapy is of great benefit to many patients with prostate cancer, it may also increase the risk of developing diabetes or having a heart attack or stroke. By collaborating with urology, medical oncology and the cardio-oncology program, we are better able to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from hormones, and in those who do get hormones, how to better protect their cardiovascular system," said Eric Shinohara, M.D., MSCI, associate professor of Medicine and medical director of the Vanderbilt Radiation Oncology Clinic.

ADT is associated with increased in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels, increased fat and decreased lean body mass, increased insulin resistance and decreased glucose tolerance, and in a general metabolic state like that of metabolic syndrome.

"Aggressive treatment of these altered cardiovascular risk factors can be an important step to decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients treated with ADT," said senior author Javid Moslehi, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine and director of Vanderbilt's Cardio-oncology program.

"In general, cardiovascular wellness is an important aspect of care for all of the nearly 230,000 men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in the U.S."

David Penson, Paul V. Hamilton and Virginia E. Howard believe that men with prostate cancer on ADT should be aware of their cardiovascular risk, especially that more men with their condition die of heart disease.

Alicia Morgans, one of the authors, believes that there should be a comprehensive team that addresses all the aspect of a patient's health because treating one illness or another can dramatically affect the overall well-being of the patient.