Clinical Study on Thromboembolic Events in Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy With or Without Androgen Deprivation Therapy

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the incidence of thromboembolic events (TEs) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients receiving radiation therapy with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 125 PCa patients admitted to the Henan Provincial People's Hospital from February 2020 to February 2022. Patients were divided into control and observation groups after baseline matching, with the former consisting of 31 patients receiving radiation therapy alone and the latter constituting 31 patients receiving radiation therapy combined with ADT. The incidence rates of TEs, coagulation function indicators (fibrinogen [FIB], D-dimer [D-D], activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT], prothrombin time [PT]), and thrombotic molecular markers (plasminogen-α2-antiplasmin complex [PIC], thrombomodulin [TM], thrombin-antithrombin [TAT] complex, tissue-type plasminogen activator-inhibitor complex [t-PAIC]) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the observation group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). No cases of pulmonary embolism (PE) or arterial embolism (AE) were reported in either group. After treatment, the observation group showed significantly lower PT and APTT levels and significantly higher levels of FIB, D-D, and all thrombotic molecular markers (TAT, PIC, TM, and t-PAIC) compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Although ADT provides substantial benefits in controlling PCa progression, it significantly increases the risk of TEs, particularly DVT. Physicians should carefully evaluate the thromboembolic risk before initiating ADT in PCa patients and consider prophylactic anticoagulation strategies for risk mitigation.