Radiation therapy for prostate cancer may be less effective in men who are overweight or obese.
This is evidenced by the results of a new study, conducted with the participation of more than 1,400 patients.
The authors of the study state that patients with excess kilograms have a higher risk of recurrence of cancer, as well as a higher mortality.
Speaking about specific figures, overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of recurrence of the disease by 3%; such patients die from prostate cancer by 15% more often, from other causes - by 5% more often.
"The case may not be in the weight itself, but that excess fat makes cancer treatment less effective. Radiation therapy works, but not as good as other participants. We do not call for a cessation of treatment, we just talk about the fact that it would be nice to work at the same time to reduce weight, "said lead author Dr. Eric Horwitz, head of the department of oncoradiology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
The issue attracted the attention of researchers for the reason that in the States over the past 40 years the incidence of obesity has increased more than 2-fold, but the effect of this disease on prostate cancer is still little known.
"Unlike patients with normal weight who can usually be candidates for surgical treatment, obese men often remain without alternatives-only drugs and radiation therapy," says Horwitz.
The results of Dr. Horwitz's study were published in the journal Cancer. The study included 1,442 men (mean age 68 years) who treated localized prostate cancer between 2001 and 2010. Observation of participants lasted an average of 4 years.
"The worst outcomes in overweight men are due to faster progression of cancer and the emergence of metastases. But what mechanisms are the basis of this phenomenon, we find it difficult to answer. This is an issue for future research, "David Samadi, head of the Department of Urology and Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, tried to explain the relationship, an independent expert.
According to Dr. Samadi, even the most advanced high-precision methods of radiation therapy for cancer for some reason work worse in patients with obesity and overweight, which is associated with worse outcomes.
Dr. Manish Vira, director of the Urology Oncology Residency Program at the Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, comments: "This study gives us very important information. Based on its results, we must take the next step - to include patients in the program of weight loss and see how this will affect the results of treatment ".
Dr. Horwitz believes that while such patients should be prescribed more aggressive treatment.
medbe. ru Radiation therapy for prostate cancer may be less effective in men with overweight or obese.
This is evidenced by the results of a new study, conducted with the participation of more than 1,400 patients.
The authors of the study state that patients with excess kilograms have a higher risk of recurrence of cancer, as well as a higher mortality.
Speaking about specific figures, overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of recurrence of the disease by 3%; such patients die from prostate cancer by 15% more often, from other causes - by 5% more often.
"The case may not be in the weight itself, but that excess fat makes cancer treatment less effective. Radiation therapy works, but not as good as other participants. We do not call for a cessation of treatment, we just talk about the fact that it would be nice to work at the same time to reduce weight, "said lead author Dr. Eric Horwitz, head of the department of oncoradiology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
The issue attracted the attention of researchers for the reason that in the States over the past 40 years the incidence of obesity has increased more than 2-fold, but the effect of this disease on prostate cancer is still little known.
"Unlike patients with normal weight who can usually be candidates for surgical treatment, obese men often remain without alternatives-only drugs and radiation therapy," says Horwitz.
The results of Dr. Horwitz's study were published in the journal Cancer. The study included 1,442 men (mean age 68 years) who treated localized prostate cancer between 2001 and 2010. Observation of participants lasted an average of 4 years.
"The worst outcomes in overweight men are due to faster progression of cancer and the emergence of metastases. But what mechanisms are the basis of this phenomenon, we find it difficult to answer. This is an issue for future research, "David Samadi, head of the Department of Urology and Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, tried to explain the relationship, an independent expert.
According to Dr. Samadi, even the most advanced high-precision methods of radiation therapy for cancer for some reason work worse in patients with obesity and overweight, which is associated with worse outcomes.
Dr. Manish Vira, director of the Urology Oncology Residency Program at the Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, comments: "This study gives us very important information. Based on its results, we must take the next step - to include patients in the program of weight loss and see how this will affect the results of treatment ".
Dr. Horwitz believes that while such patients should be prescribed more aggressive treatment.
medbe. en.