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Agent Orange and long-term outcomes after radical prostatectomy
Aaron E Ovadia1, Martha K Terris2, William J Aronson3
1Department of Urology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Urologic Oncology
|May 23, 2015
Summary
Agent Orange (AO) exposure in Vietnam veterans was not linked to worse prostate cancer (PC) outcomes. Long-term follow-up showed no association between AO exposure and cancer recurrence, secondary treatment, or mortality.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Oncology
- Veterans Health
Background:
- Agent Orange (AO) is an herbicide used during the Vietnam War.
- Concerns exist regarding long-term health effects, including cancer, in exposed populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Agent Orange (AO) exposure and long-term prostate cancer (PC) outcomes in a veteran cohort.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1,882 men treated for PC between 1988-2011.
- Stratification by AO exposure and assessment of biopsy/pathologic characteristics.
- Cox models used to determine hazard ratios for recurrence, secondary treatment, metastases, and PC mortality.
Main Results:
- 17.7% of men had AO exposure; they were younger with lower PSA levels.
- No significant differences in biopsy/pathologic Gleason sum or stage were observed.
- AO exposure was not associated with biochemical recurrence, secondary treatment, metastases, or PC-specific mortality after multivariable analysis.
Conclusions:
- Agent Orange (AO) exposure was not associated with adverse preoperative characteristics or worse long-term prostate cancer (PC) outcomes.
- Previously observed differences in PC outcomes for AO-exposed men are no longer apparent with mature data.
