Adverse effects of androgen deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer: Focus on muscle and bone health.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.

Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology. 2020;(3):1286-1294

Abstract

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the most effective systemic treatment for prostate cancer and can be succeeded either surgically or pharmaceutically. Both approaches lead to hypogonadism with a large variety of adverse events, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, gynecomastia and sexual dysfunction. In addition, undesirable effects on muscle and bone health may have a significant impact not only on the quality of life but also on life expectancy. Currently, supervised exercise seems to be the only intervention that could prevent the adverse effects of the ADT and improve quality of life. Lifestyle modification, supplementation of calcium, vitamin D and when indicated antiosteoporotic treatments improve bone health. However, patients receiving ADT must be well informed about the potential benefits as well as the risks of the treatment.

Methodological quality

Publication Type : Review

Metadata