Bicalutamide causes heart failure in an elderly patient with prostate cancer

ABSTRACT

Objective: To examine the molecular mechanisms by which bicalutamide may cause heart failure in an elderly patient.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of bicalutamide as a cause of heart failure in Mr FD, an 82 years old with prostate cancer.

Results: Following months of therapy, Mr FD was diagnosed with heart failure. Bicalutamide has been ceased, but 21 months later, Mr FD was still on heart failure medications, and passed away months later probably due to complications of prostate cancer. The Naranjo ADR probability scale gave this case a score of seven.

Conclusion: The Naranjo scale strongly suggests that bicalutamide was the cause of heart failure. Apoptosis seems to be one of the mechanisms mediating heart failure, with the involvement of many molecular actors, such as ET-1, Bcl-2 and cyclin-A. The author believes this to be the first analysis describing bicalutamide as a probable cause of heart failure.

KEYWORDS:

• Adverse drug reaction
• apoptosis
• Bicalutamide
• elderly
• heart failure
• prostate cancer

Declaration of interest

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.