American researchers have observed a link between bone biomarkers and mortality rates in patients with prostate cancer.
- In a majority of cases, prostate cancer does not cause any symptoms at the onset of the disease.
- Treatment for prostate cancer is usually based on hormone therapy.
- Bone biomarkers could alert to an increased risk of death in the event of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. At the beginning of its evolution, this pathology generally does not cause any symptoms. Urinary disorders can then gradually appear.
Bone biomarkers associated with risk of death in prostate cancer
A study led by the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center (USA) observed an association between bone biomarkers and survival rate in men with newly diagnosed hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC) who had received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which reduces androgen levels, or prevents them from reaching cancer cells. The results of this work have been published in the journal European Urology.
For the purposes of this study, scientists analyzed a phase 3 trial from the SWOG Cancer Research Network, a global cancer research community, which followed 1,000 patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy and/or a new hormone therapy called Orteronel. They then measured bone biomarkers of bone loss and formation in patients with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer who participated in the trial.
Prostate cancer: hormone therapy could disrupt bone turnover
In particular, the study authors found that bone biomarkers were associated with an increased risk of death in men affected by prostate cancer. According to them, patients with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer are usually treated with hormone therapy. However, this treatment can disrupt bone renewal and promote the development of bone diseases such as osteopenia or osteoporosis.
“Our results show that elevated levels of bone turnover biomarkers are associated with shorter lifespan in men recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer… In the future, knowing a person’s bone biomarker status could improve how we predict patient outcomes and improve treatment considerations for men with metastatic prostate cancer.” noted Primo “Lucky” Lara Jr., the director of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
