Evaluating the Impact of Common Non-Oncologic Medication Use During Radiotherapy in Patients with High-Risk Prostate...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Non-oncologic medications can influence prostate cancer (PCa) radiotherapy (RT) efficacy.
• Previous research links certain drugs to cancer outcomes.
• This study investigates aspirin, metformin, and statins in high-risk PCa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of common non-oncologic medications on time to progression in high-risk PCa patients receiving definitive RT.
• To determine if aspirin, metformin, or statin use affects progression-free survival (PFS).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 237 high-risk PCa patients undergoing definitive RT.
• Progression defined as biochemical, locoregional, or distant metastasis.
• Cox proportional hazards models used to evaluate medication effects on PFS.

Main Results:

• Neither aspirin nor statin use was significantly associated with PFS.
• Metformin use was linked to significantly worse PFS (aHR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.06-5.72).
• 54 patients (22.8%) experienced disease progression.

Conclusions:

• Aspirin and statins did not impact progression likelihood in high-risk PCa patients.
• Metformin use was associated with poorer PFS, though based on a small number of users.
• Further research is required to understand the effects of non-oncologic medications on PCa outcomes.