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Adapted from the NCI Cancer Bulletin, vol. 5/no. 2, January 22, 2008 (see the current issue ³).

The addition of androgen suppression therapy (AST) to radiation therapy (RT) improves overall survival in men with localized prostate cancer and risk factors for disease recurrence, but the survival benefit may apply only to men who do not have moderate to high levels of other illnesses (comorbidities), researchers report in the January 23, 2008, Journal of the American Medical Association (see the journal abstract ⁴).

Previous observational studies and pooled analyses of randomized trials have suggested that AST may be associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events in older men.

In the current study, researchers randomly assigned 206 men with localized prostate cancer and a high risk of recurrence to either RT alone or RT plus AST for six months. The men, whose average age was 72.5, were classified into subgroups based on the severity of their other illnesses, such as diabetes or a previous heart attack.

After 7.6 years median follow-up, estimated eight-year survival was 74 percent for men randomized to RT plus AST compared with 61 percent for men assigned to RT alone. A total of 74 men had died - 44 of those assigned to RT alone and 30 assigned to RT plus AST.

Among the 157 men with only minor comorbidities, 31 of those treated with RT alone had died, compared with 11 of those in the RT plus AST group. Among the 49 men with moderate to severe comorbidities, however, 19 of those randomized to RT plus AST had died, compared with 13 of those assigned to RT alone.

"Preexisting comorbid illness may increase the negative effects of specific anticancer treatments such as AST," conclude the researchers, who were led by Dr. Anthony V. D'Amico of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. They recommend that follow-up clinical trials be designed to further assess this interaction and identify which illnesses in particular may shorten life expectancy among men undergoing treatment with AST.

Glossary Terms

Treatment to suppress or block the production or action of male hormones. This is done by having the testicles removed, by taking female sex hormones, or by taking drugs called antiandrogens. Also called androgen ablation and androgen deprivation.

Restricted to the site of origin, without evidence of spread.

A statistics term. The middle value in a set of measurements.

A type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured. No attempt is made to affect the outcome (for example, no treatment is given).

A study in which the participants are assigned by chance to separate groups that compare different treatments; neither the researchers nor the participants can choose which group. Using chance to assign people to groups means that the groups will be similar and that the treatments they receive can be compared objectively. At the time of the trial, it is not known which treatment is best. It is the patient's choice to be in a randomized trial.