Analysis of hemoglobin values in prostate cancer patients treated with external radiotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: The world estimate points to prostate cancer as the second most frequent cancer in men worldwide, and radiotherapy is an important modality of curative treatment to manage this neoplasm. The prevalence and impact of cancer-related anemia are not widely known and may be overlooked or considered clinically significant. It is believed that the results and toxicity of radiation therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer may be influenced by hemoglobin levels in the blood. Objective: To evaluate hemoglobin levels in patients with prostate cancer before and after radiotherapy treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective and longitudinal study of patients diagnosed with malignant prostate cancer who underwent external radiotherapy. Hemoglobin levels were measured before radiotherapy and after completion of treatment (20-40 days). Anemia was defined by the World Health Organization as values below 13 g/dl. The classification of the risk of prostate cancer recurrence was based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk criteria. Results: Forty patients were evaluated with measurement of hemoglobin levels before and after radiotherapy treatment. The mean age was 67 years. According to the classification of the risk group, 4 patients were at low risk (10%), 27 patients were at intermediate risk (67.5%), and 9 patients were at high risk (22.5%). Mean pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin levels were 13.3 g/dL and mean post-radiotherapy hemoglobin levels were 10.4 g/dL, p < 0.0001. Conclusion: In this study, a reduction in serum hemoglobin levels was observed after radiotherapy, highlighting the need for better monitoring of these patients.