Effects of leuprolide acetate on the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer: A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with prostate cancer (PC) and compare the changes in the HRQOL between ADT alone and ADT plus intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).Materials and methodsPatients with PC were prospectively recruited between October 2018 and April 2020. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and the PC-specific module (PR25) were administered before ADT (baseline) and at 3, 6, and 12 months after ADT. All patients received subcutaneous injections of 45 mg leuprolide acetate at 6-month intervals for 12 months.ResultsFifty-five of the 71 patients (77.5%) completed the 12-month study. Twenty-two of the 55 patients received IMRT. There were no differences in the baseline characteristics with respect to IMRT. Compared with baseline, physical function and role function deteriorated after 3 months (p = 0.003, p = 0.019). However, the global quality of life (QOL) did not change over time. The symptom scales of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire indicated that there was a statistically significant deterioration in dyspnea and fatigue symptoms at 12 months (p = 0.004, p = 0.004). Responses to the QLQ-PR25 revealed that patients experienced an increase in hormonal treatment-related symptoms after 3, 6, and 12 months (p = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.004). Comparisons between the ADT group and ADT plus IMRT group showed that body function and role function did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.815, p = 0.759), and there was also no difference in global QOL (p = 0.624).ConclusionOur results indicate that treatment with leuprolide acetate at 6-month intervals was not accompanied by changes in global QOL, despite deterioration of body and role functions and hormonal treatment-related symptoms. The combination of ADT and IMRT did not lead to additional deterioration in the HRQOL.