According to a recent study men with prostate cancer could double their chances of survival if they received hormone therapy as well as radiotherapy.
Hormone therapy can lower the levels of male hormones circulating in the body, which can prevent the growth of cancerous tumours. Receiving the hormone therapy, which is called Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy (NADT), for six months both before and after radiotherapy means that the potential side effects are also reduced. These can include impotence, high cholesterol and heart attacks, which can all be caused by prolonged use.
Chris Parker from the London Royal Marsden Hospital said:
“This is an important trial, and has two clear messages for current clinical practice. First, it confirms that NADT significantly reduces mortality after radiotherapy for high-risk prostate cancer, and is a standard of care. Second, it helps to resolve the uncertainty regarding NADT duration, and strongly suggests that men receiving NADT should have at least six months’ treatment.”
The study looked at a previous trial which included 802 men with locally advanced prostate cancer. Some of the men were treated only with radiotherapy, whereas the others also received three to six months of hormone treatment. After 10 years the results showed that there was an 11% death rate among those who had received both the 6 month NADT treatment alongside the radiotherapy, compared with a 22% death rate among those who just taken the radiotherapy.
The results show that men with locally advanced prostate cancer can be treated successfully with as little as 6 months of NADT.
