Addressing Health Care Disparities and Improving Patient Outcomes in Prostate Cancer: Expert Perspectives on Optimizing ADT

Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. Medical androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the standard of care for advanced prostate cancer but may be associated with a broad range of adverse effects. Increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events is among the most serious, as CV disease is the most common non-cancer cause of death in prostate cancer patients. Although evidence-based guidelines on ADT selection and CV risk mitigation are available, research has shown that many health care providers (HCPs) are unable to effectively mitigate CV risk in patients receiving ADT for advanced prostate cancer.

Studies also indicate that socioeconomic factors and differences in patterns of care contribute to disparities in prostate cancer outcomes. This is a problematic trend with significant implications for prostate cancer patients who are US Veterans and/or Black, who are at substantially greater risk for worse outcomes due to inequities in care.

This activity has been developed to enhance HCPs’ knowledge and competence regarding selection of appropriate ADT, assessment and management of CV risk, and methods to overcome racial and socioeconomic disparities in advanced prostate cancer care.