According to a new study, men with preexisting prostate cancer have more risk factors in developing diabetes if they are given with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). ADT is prescribed among prostate cancer patients to inhibit the effect of male hormones that enhance the malignant spread of cancer cells.
ADT, sometimes termed as medical or surgical castration, is a frequently prescribed treatment for patients with a widespread prostate cancer disease. It involves the surgical removal of the testicles or the administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists to inhibit the testosterone production in the testicles.
To conduct the study, the researchers gathered Filipino patients with symptoms of prostate cancer. 38 men diagnosed with prostate cancer were given with ADT, while 36 men with less severe prostate cancer were not given with ADT. Men belonging to the ADT group had a 42 percent chance of developing diabetes following ADT, compared to the 19 percent chance of men from the other group.
Dr. Maria Luisa Cecilia Rivera-Arkoncel, the lead investigator of the study and resident at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, emphasized that patients can benefit from many interventions such as counseling and close monitoring of symptoms.
The prevalence of diabetes in the Philippines is high, but there are no previous data of an increased likelihood of developing diabetes with ADT. The study suggests that ADT may be the cause of the development of diabetes risk factors, but more studies in this field are encouraged to be conducted.
The study was presented in Boston, during the 93rd Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society.
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