EFFECTS OF ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY ON FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA - A PILOT STUDY

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in Nigerian men. There are many modalities of treatment of prostate cancer, among them is hormonal treatment with the use of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and this has been reported to have effects on the blood glucose level, causing hyperglycaemia.

Objective: To determine the effects of three-month administration of ADT on fasting blood glucose in prostate cancer patients.

Methods: This prospective pilot study involved 15 histologically diagnosed prostate cancer patients who were not diabetic. Baseline measurements of fasting blood glucose were done before the commencement of ADT. Follow-up assessments occurred after 3 months of ADT administration. Data was analysed using logistic regression.

Result: Fifteen patients who met the study’s selection criteria were recruited. The age of the patients ranged from 56 to 88 years, with a median age of 70 years. There was a 5.8% increase in the mean FBS from 95.1mg/dl (±11.2mg/dl) at baseline to 100.6mg/dl (±11.8mg/dl) at 3 months (p=0.171). Subgroup analysis revealed a statistically significant 6.1% increase in the median FBS from 90.0mg/dl (range: 80 – 114mg/dl) at baseline to 95.5mg/dl (range:88 – 119mg/dl) at 3 months (p=0.027) among patients with hypertension, however, the increase in the mean was not statistically significant (p=0.09).

Conclusion: This pilot study suggested that ADT therapy may not be associated with hyperglycaemia after 3 months. Further research will further provide insight into the risks associated with men on ADT developing hyperglycaemia and the timing of these metabolic changes in the course of their treatment. This will help in the early identification and management of this complication.