Short-term impact of androgen deprivation therapy on bone strength in castration-sensitive prostate cancer

To prospectively evaluate changes in bone quality and bone mineral density after androgen deprivation therapy in castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

A total of 32 patients with castration-sensitive prostate cancer who were scheduled for androgen deprivation therapy for >12 months were included. The bone mineral density of the femoral neck and lumbar spine was evaluated before, and 6 and 12 months after androgen deprivation therapy. Bone metabolic (serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b and procollagen type I propeptides) and bone quality markers (plasma pentosidine and homocysteine) were measured before, and 3, 6 and 12 months after androgen deprivation therapy.

The median patient age was 71 years. A total of 17 patients were treated primarily with androgen deprivation therapy, and 15 were treated with androgen deprivation therapy in combination with definitive radiotherapy. Bone quality markers did not change substantially after androgen deprivation therapy. Bone mineral density decreased significantly after 12 months of androgen deprivation therapy. Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b levels increased significantly 3 months after androgen deprivation therapy, but procollagen type I propeptides levels stayed unchanged.

Bone quality markers do not change substantially after androgen deprivation therapy, whereas bone mineral density decreases significantly. Bone turnover markers might play an important role in monitoring bone health during androgen deprivation therapy.