New Trial Protects Hearts During Prostate Cancer Treatment

Thousands of prostate cancer patients could soon have better, healthier lives during treatment thanks to a new clinical trial launching at City of Hope.

The challenge is real: androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) saves lives by treating prostate cancer, but it comes with a hidden cost. Patients receiving this hormone therapy face increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and metabolic problems like weight gain and insulin resistance.

Now researchers are testing three practical solutions that could change everything. The phase 2 clinical trial will compare intermittent fasting (16-hour fasting windows), anti-obesity GLP-1 medications, and the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 guidelines to see which works best at protecting patients' hearts.

Dr. Yun Rose Li, the study's principal investigator and physician-scientist in City of Hope's Department of Radiation Oncology, has dedicated her lab to reducing cancer treatment side effects. "Addressing these metabolic and cardiovascular consequences is essential to improving overall health, reducing long-term morbidity and optimizing outcomes for patients undergoing cancer therapy," she explained.

The trial design puts patients first. Participants will follow one of the three approaches for six months while continuing their cancer treatment of radiation and hormone therapy. Researchers will track comprehensive health markers including biomarkers, imaging, and clinical endpoints, then follow patients for a full year after the intervention ends.

Why This Inspires

This trial represents a fundamental shift in cancer care. Instead of accepting harmful side effects as inevitable, researchers are actively testing solutions that patients can actually use in their daily lives.

These aren't experimental drugs or complicated procedures. Intermittent fasting, GLP-1 medications, and heart-healthy lifestyle guidelines are already proven safe and effective in other settings. The trial simply tests whether they work equally well for cancer patients, opening doors for immediate implementation.

Dr. June-Wha Rhee, associate professor in City of Hope's Division of Cardiology and fellow study investigator, sees the bigger picture. "We hope to identify which strategy provides the greatest benefit for cardiometabolic health and which patients will benefit the most from prophylactic intervention," she said.

The insights gained will reshape how doctors approach cancer treatment nationwide. Future patients won't have to choose between beating cancer and protecting their hearts—they'll be able to do both.

For the prostate cancer patients enrolled in this trial, the message is clear: you deserve to survive cancer and thrive afterward.