Effect of Androgen–Androgen Receptor Directed Therapy on COVID-19 Outcome in Prostate Cancer Patients

Abstract

TMPRSS2 is utilized by SARS-CoV-2 for cellular entry. Androgen-Androgen receptor directed therapy (A/ARDT) downregulates expression of TMPRSS2. We hypothesized A/ARDT might protect prostate cancer (PCa) patients from poor COVID-19 outcome. A retrospective analysis of PCa patients with COVID-19 infection was performed. 146 PCa cases were identified, 17% were on A/ARDT. Hospitalization rates were same 52% (OR = 0.99, 0.41–2.24). Mean hospitalization was 9.2 (Range: 1–25) and 14.9 (Range: 2–47) days in A/ARDT and non-A/ARDT groups, respectively. While definitive conclusions cannot be made regarding outcome differences between groups due to lack of statistical significance, these data generate hypothesis that A/ARDT might shorten hospitalization stay.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• androgen deprivation therapy
• prostate cancer

Author contributions

SU designed the study, conducted the chart review, analyzed and interpreted the results, and wrote the manuscript. JJS conducted the chart review, and analyzed and interpreted the results and helped writing the manuscript. JPY conducted the chart review, and analyzed and interpreted the results. MS and IK helped with the design of the study and analysis and interpretation of results. JV and DPP helped with the analysis and interpretation of results. JWK designed the study, analyzed and interpreted the results and wrote the manuscript. All authors read through, reviewed and approved the submitted version of the manuscript.

Authors of this article would like to thank Soundari Sureshanand and Richard Hintz from the Joint Data Analytics Team at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation for their contributions in data extraction and reporting.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the KL2 TR001862 grant to JJS, Kenneth C. Griffin, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the COVID-19 Early Treatment Fund, the Harrington Discovery Institute, Department of Internal Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, and the United State Public Health Service grant, 5UL1RR024139 grants to JV, 1R01AG056728 and R01AG055362 grants to IK. JWK receives research grant support from Overland ADCT BioPharma, Regeneron, Hummingbird Bioscience. DPP receives grant support from Ada Cap (Advanced Accelerator Applications), Arvinas, Astellas, AstraZeneca, BioXcel Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Clovis Oncology, Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited, Endocyte, Ferring, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Merck, Pfizer, Replimune, Seattle Genetics and consultant fees from Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Exelixis, Gilead Sciences, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Ipsen, Merck & Company Inc, Monopteros, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Seattle Genetics.