Interaction of adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy with patient comorbidity status on overall survival after radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer

To evaluate the impact of adjuvant hormonal therapy after radical prostatectomy on overall survival in high-risk prostate cancer patients, stratified by comorbidity status. Methods: We identified 1247 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy from 1988 to 2004 for high-risk prostate cancer, as defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network classification. Comorbidity status was stratified by Charlson Comorbidity Index as 0, 1 or >2, as well as by the presence or absence of cardiovascular disease. Overall survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and compared within each comorbidity category/adjuvant hormonal therapy strata with the log-rank test. Results: Median patient age was 65 years, and the median postoperative follow up was 11.2 years. In total, 419 patients (34%) received adjuvant hormonal therapy. The distribution of Charlson Comorbidity Index was 0, 1 and ≥2 in 861 (69%), 244 (20%) and 142 (11%) patients, respectively. The 10-year overall survival for patients who received adjuvant hormonal therapy versus those who did not was 75% versus 82% (P=0.54) for patients with Charlson Comorbidity Index=0, 72% versus 76% (P=0.83) with Charlson Comorbidity Index=1, and 70% versus 68% (P=0.33) with Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2. Meanwhile, 155 (12%) patients had cardiovascular disease, and the 10-year overall survival for patients with cardiovascular disease who received adjuvant hormonal therapy was 72%, compared with 76% without adjuvant hormonal therapy (P=0.97). On multivariate analysis, receipt of adjuvant hormonal therapy was not associated with non-prostate cancer mortality (P=0.24). Conclusions: Adjuvant hormonal therapy after radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer does not increase non-prostate cancer mortality, even among patients with multiple comorbidities. Additional studies are warranted to determine optimal multimodal treatment approach for high-risk patients.