Seattle researchers reveal clues to prostate cancer treatment side effects
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and UW Medicine
Washington
At Fred Hutch Cancer Center and the University of Washington in Seattle, researchers are gaining new insights into how a specific prostate cancer treatment affects patients’ quality of life.
Led by Jose M. Garcia, M.D., the team studied men receiving androgen deprivation therapy, a common treatment for prostate cancer, to better understand the factors that contribute to fatigue, reduced physical function and decreased muscle mass.
“We wanted to understand what's driving how a patient feels and functions, not just what shows up on a scan,” said Garcia.
By following patients before and during treatment, researchers examined strength and endurance, patient-reported well-being and changes in muscle tissue, including the role of mitochondria, which help generate energy within cells.
The study found that measures of physical endurance and mitochondrial function were more closely tied to patient well-being than muscle mass alone. In fact, higher lean muscle mass was associated with worse patient-reported outcomes.
The findings show that mitochondria could be a key therapeutic target going forward. Results could also help clinicians identify patients at greater risk for declines in function and support earlier interventions, such as structured exercise programs, to help patients maintain their health during treatment.