Glucose intolerance during hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of hormonal therapy (HT) on glucose metabolism in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Fifty-two PCa patients receiving HT with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues and/or antiandrogen drugs were enrolled in this study. Both blood and urine samples were taken a few hours after breakfast before and after HT, and glucose levels in the blood and urine were measured. Elevations of blood glucose levels of 30-50, 50-100 and over 100 mg/dl after HT as compared with the levels before HT were observed in two, eight and five patients, respectively. Urine examination revealed deterioration of glucosuria in seven patients. The mean blood glucose level after HT was significantly higher than that measured before HT. The elevation of blood glucose level significantly correlated with concurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and higher body mass index (BMI) before HT. Deterioration of glucosuria significantly correlated with the concurrence of DM. HT for PCa patients, especially with concurrent DM or obesity, induces elevation of the blood glucose level and deterioration of glucosuria. Therefore, glucose intolerance should be considered during HT for PCa.