Development of anemia and recovery in prostate cancer patients treated with combined androgen blockade and radiotherapy

Abstract

There was no association between incidence or rate of Hb decrease and race, age, or pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. However, the recovery from anemia after completion of CAB in African-Americans was slower than in Whites in the Z+ group (P < 0.04). Whereas grade 1 hematologic toxicity may occur in < 5% of the patients with zoladex alone, and approximately 6% with flutamide alone, in our study 81% showed mild to pronounced anemia. Since anemia has not been observed after treatment with XRT alone or XRT followed by zoladex, we conclude that the anemia was due to CAB. Recognition of this side effect should avoid unnecessary diagnostic evaluations.