In a nutshell
The authors determined the effect of diabetes on prostate cancer outcome following prostate surgery.
Some background
Prostate surgery is a common treatment for prostate cancer. It involves surgically removing the prostate gland. In some cases, additional health issues, such as diabetes, may have a negative impact on patient outcome. Diabetes is a condition where the blood sugar level is elevated. Glycemic control (glycemia means sugar) is used to measure the typical levels of blood sugar (glucose) in people with diabetes. This is measured using certain biological components, such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Metformin (Glucophage) is an approved drug used to treat patients with diabetes.
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diabetes in prostate cancer following prostate surgery.
746 patients who underwent prostate surgery were analyzed in this study. The median (mid-point) follow-up time was 48 months. 28% of patients had a history of diabetes. 192 patients in group 1 (25.7%) had high HbAc1 levels (above 6.5%). 554 patients in group 2 had low HbAc1 levels (less than 6.5%).
19.7% of patients experienced biochemical recurrence (increase in prostate specific antigen levels [PSA – protein elevated in the blood in the presence of prostate cancer]) following treatment. The median time from surgery until biochemical recurrence was 9.5 months in group 1. It was 14 months in group 2.
PSA levels before surgery, biochemical recurrence rates and Gleason scores (scoring system comparing cancer cells and healthy cells) were significantly higher in group 1. Cancer was also more advanced in patients in group 1. Patients in group 1 had 70.4% increased odds of experiencing high Gleason scores. Patients in group 1 had 85.3% increased odds of experiencing biochemical recurrence.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that patients with high HbAc1 levels were more likely to experience biochemical recurrence following prostate surgery.
The fine print
Further investigations are needed to fully understand the impact of glycemic control on prostate cancer outcome.
Published By :
PLOS ONE
Date :
Apr 21, 2015
