Prostate Cancer Medications Increase Risk Of Heart Problems

Certain prostate cancer medications may unfortunately increase the risk of cardiovascular problems in men. Recent findings published in the journal BJU International show that these medications should be thoroughly studied, weighing both the pros and cons of use, before deciding to include them. 

For the study, researchers specifically looked at androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which reduces levels of male hormones in the body in order to help prevent them from stimulating cancer cells. However, despite the drug's positive effects, ADT has also been linked to heart problems such as an increased risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart attacks and sudden cardiac death.

"While androgen deprivation therapy can be a lifesaving drug for men with prostate cancer and significantly increase the cure rates when used with radiation for aggressive disease, this study also raises the possibility that a small subgroup of men who have significant heart disease could experience increased cardiac death on ADT," said lead study author Paul Nguyen, MD, of the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center in Boston, in a news release. 

"I would still say that for men with significant heart problems, we should try to avoid ADT when it is not necessary-such as for men with low-risk disease or men receiving ADT only to shrink the prostate prior to radiation. However, for men with high-risk disease, in whom the prostate-cancer benefits of ADT likely outweigh any potential cardiac harms, ADT should be given even if they have heart problems, but the patient should be followed closely by a cardiologist to ensure that he is being carefully watched and optimized from a cardiac perspective."