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Body composition, physical function and quality of life in healthy men and across different stages of prostate cancer

Abstract

Background

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PC) has detrimental effects on physical function and quality of life (QoL), but the addition of androgen receptor signalling inhibitors (ARSI) on these outcomes is unclear.

Purpose

To compare body composition, physical function, and QoL across progressive stages of PC and non-cancer controls (CON).

Methods

In men with hormone sensitive PC (HSPC, n = 43) or metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC, n = 22) or CON (n = 37), relative and absolute lean and fat mass, physical function (6 m walk, chair stands, timed up and go [TUG], stair climb), and QoL were determined.

Results

Relative body composition differed amongst all groups, along with ~39% greater absolute fat mass in mCRPC vs. CON. TUG and chair stands were ~71% and ~33% slower in mCRPC compared to both CON and HSPC, whereas stair climb was ~29% and 6 m walk was ~18% slower in mCRPC vs. CON. Relative body composition was correlated with physical function (r = 0.259–0.385). Clinically relevant differences for mCRPC were observed for overall QoL and several subscales vs. CON, although body composition and physical function did not influence QoL.

Conclusions

PC progression is associated with deteriorations in body composition and physical function. As ADT length was similar between groups, ARSI use for mCRPC likely contributed in part to these changes. Given the difficulties of improving lean mass during ADT, interventions that reduce adiposity may lessen the side effects of hormone therapy.

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Fig. 1: Body composition in men with and without prostate cancer.
Fig. 2: Physical function in men with and without prostate cancer.
Fig. 3: Quality of life (QoL) in men with and without prostate cancer.

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Data availability

The datasets analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by funding from the National Institute of Health grants AG018336, CA127784 and AG000268; the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (P30 AG028747); the Department of Veterans Affairs; Department of Industry, Innovation, and Science of Australia; Research Development grant scheme from Victoria University; the Oded Bar-Or International Scholar Award from the American College of Sports Medicine; and the Physical Activity and Cancer Survivorship pilot funding from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duke Cancer Institute and the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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Correspondence to Erik D. Hanson.

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Hanson, E.D., Stopforth, C.K., Alzer, M. et al. Body composition, physical function and quality of life in healthy men and across different stages of prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 24, 725–732 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41391-020-00317-w

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