Open AccessImproved outcomes after radiotherapy for prostate cancer: Anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, and platelet count as key factors in disease progression
Author(s) -
Gutiontov Stanley I.,
Choe Kevin S.,
Miller Jonathan L.,
Liauw Stanley L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.3087
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate cancer , quartile , platelet , radiation therapy , incidence (geometry) , androgen deprivation therapy , cohort , cumulative incidence , gastroenterology , cancer , urology , surgery , oncology , confidence interval , physics , optics
Background Several studies have suggested that antiplatelet (AP) or anticoagulant (AC) therapy may improve outcome in men with prostate cancer. We evaluated the effects of AP/AC therapy and tested the hypothesis that platelet count may also be associated with outcomes. Methods A total of 482 patients received primary radiotherapy (median dose 72 Gy) for nonmetastatic prostate cancer; 49% received androgen deprivation therapy. NCCN risk was low/intermediate/high risk in 39%/39%/22%. AP/AC therapy and platelet counts were analyzed with respect to freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF, nadir+2), distant metastasis (FFDM), and cause specific survival (CSS). Results After a median follow‐up of 103 months, 10‐year FFBF, FFDM, and CSS were 77%, 92%, and 96%, respectively. The 10‐year cumulative incidence of BF and DM (with death as a competing event) was 19% and 7.0%, respectively. The 32% of men on AP/AC therapy had a lower incidence of 10‐year BF ( P = .016) and a trend toward a lower incidence of DM ( P = .084) and CSS ( P = .091). In the entire cohort, lowest platelet quartile (platelet count <187) was associated with higher 10‐year BF (31% vs 16%, P = .0042) but not DM (9.4% vs 5.2%, P = .22) nor CSS ( P = .76) compared with those patients with platelet count ≥187. AP/AC therapy was associated with a larger absolute reduction in BF for men with lowest platelet quartile (10‐year BF of 21% vs 38%, P = .092) vs platelet ≥187 (10‐year BF of 10% vs 18%, P = .053). Lowest platelet quartile remained associated with higher BF and DM on multivariable analysis controlling for risk category, WBC, and Hg. Conclusion AP/AC was associated with improved FFBF. Low platelet count was associated with inferior FFBF and FFDM after prostate radiotherapy. This association was tempered when antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy was administered.