Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background
Men with prostate cancer (PC) who receive androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), targeting the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GNRH) axis, are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the pathophysiology behind ADT cardiotoxicity is unclear.
Hypothesis
We hypothesize that ADT is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis due to GNRH-mediated inflammatory cascade.
Aims
To prospectively evaluate coronary plaque progression, using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), in a cohort of PC men treated with versus without ADT.
Methods
Sixty-eight men with localized PC receiving radiation (XRT) alone (n=17) or XRT+ADT (n=51) were prospectively enrolled. Patients underwent CCTA, as per clinical protocols, at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Plaque quantification was conducted, blinded to therapy and time-point, using semi-automated software (Coronary analysis research prototype, Siemens Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany), with assessment of total plaque volume (TPV) and plaque volume by subtype (calcified, CPV, high-density non-calcified, HD, low-density non-calcified, LD) on a per-patient basis. CAD-RADS was also evaluated.
Results
At baseline, median (IQR) TPV, CPV, HD, LD (mm³) and CAD-RADS among patients who received XRT alone versus XRT+ADT were 341.1 (118.5-778.2) vs 717.3 (207-1158.9), 22.2 (4.9-131.9) vs 74.3 (21.3-205.8), 306.6 (102.1-593.6) vs 585.8 (175-895.2), 14 (2.3-47) vs 22.6 (6.2-50.4), 1 (1-2) vs 2 (2-3), respectively. At 12-month follow-up, TPV, CPV, HD, LD, and CAD-RADS between XRT alone versus XRT+ADT were 410.1 (177-941) vs 904.6 (283.7-1402), 21 (12.1-195.1) vs 102.6 (30.5-259.4), 372.6 (157.6-721.6) vs 686.1 (242.7-1062.7), 11.7 (5.6-69.8) vs 34 (10.4-62.1), 2 (1-2) vs 3 (2-3). A statistically significant difference between baseline and follow-up was noted among patients treated with XRT+ADT for TPV, CPV, LD (p<0.001), and HD (p=0.006). A significant difference in CAD-RADS grade was noted in both cohorts (p=0.025 for XRT and p<0.001 for the XRT +ADT). There was no significant difference in any plaque volume between baseline and follow-up in the XRT alone cohort.
Conclusion
Addition of ADT to XRT for localized PC treatment was associated with a significant progression of TPV, CPV, HD, LD, and CAD-RADS grade over a 12-month period. Insights on ADT cardiotoxicity may lead to enhanced cardioprotective strategies tailored to patients with PC undergoing combined therapy, potentially improving cardiac outcomes.