Cardiovascular Toxicities of Androgen Deprivation Therapy

Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2021 Apr 17;22(6):47. doi: 10.1007/s11864-021-00846-z.

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, and cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in patients with prostate cancer. Androgen deprivation therapy, the cornerstone of prostate cancer treatment, has been associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Emerging data supports decreased cardiovascular risk of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists compared to agonists. Ongoing clinical trials are assessing the relative safety of different modalities of androgen deprivation therapy. Racial disparities in cardiovascular outcomes in prostate cancer patients are starting to be explored. An intriguing inquiry connects androgen deprivation therapy with reduced risk of COVID-19 infection susceptibility and severity. Recognition of the cardiotoxicity of androgen deprivation therapy and aggressive risk factor modification are crucial for optimal patient care.

Keywords: Cardiotoxicity; Cardiovascular disease; Hormones; Mortality; Prevention; Prostate cancer; Side effects.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Androstenes / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / pathology
  • Cardiotoxicity
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / chemically induced
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / ethnology
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / agonists
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / ethnology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Androstenes
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • abiraterone