Dr. Slovin Discusses Risk Factors for ADT-Associated Cardiac Complications in Prostate Cancer

Susan F. Slovin, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses risk factors for androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)-associated cardiac complications in prostate cancer.

Patients with prostate cancer who have preexisting cardiovascular disease are likely at risk of developing ADT-associated cardiac complications, explains Slovin; these are not patients who have had major cardiovascular events, but those who are overweight or who have a predisposition to diabetes. These patients may have had coronary angioplasty or a stent, so they may have had a stroke. These are the individuals who are at risk of developing cardiovascular changes, adds Slovin; that includes hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and a change in body surface area.

What is especially concerning is how commonly ADT is used in practice, says Slovin. Since it is an integral aspect of treatment for a patient with prostate cancer, physicians are trying to determine what the risk factors for cardiac complications are ahead of time, so that the patient can try to maintain good cardiovascular health.