A large, retrospective analysis of U.S. cancer registry data finds that advancing age is linked to significantly higher cancer-specific mortality in men with bone-only metastatic prostate cancer. Researchers examined 11,098 men recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database who were diagnosed between 2010 and 2022 and report that nearly half the cohort (48.2%) were 70 years or older. The study was published by Ozsoy C et al. in Scientific Reports (2026).
The analysis showed a clear, stepwise rise in five-year cancer-specific mortality with age: 50.2% for patients younger than 50 years versus 64.8% for those aged 80 and above (p<0.001). After adjusting for clinical and demographic factors, men aged 80 or older faced a 78% higher risk of cancer-specific death compared with younger patients (subdistribution hazard ratio 1.78; 95% CI: 1.45–2.19). Beyond age, the study identified several independent predictors of worse outcomes. Non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity, being single, higher prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels at diagnosis, and a higher tumour grade by the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) classification were all associated with increased cancer-specific mortality. ISUP grade is a pathology-based system that helps stratify prostate tumour aggressiveness. Patterns of treatment also correlated with survival differences. Radical prostatectomy was associated with lower cancer-specific mortality, suggesting a possible benefit for carefully selected patients. By contrast, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were linked to higher mortality in the overall cohort; the authors note this likely reflects confounding by indication, since these modalities are more often used for patients with more advanced or aggressive disease. In analyses limited to patients aged 70 and over, PSA level and ISUP grade remained strong, independent predictors of mortality, underscoring their continued value for risk stratification in older adults. The authors conclude that age independently worsens cancer-specific outcomes in bone-only metastatic prostate cancer and that tumour burden, pathological features and how treatments are allocated all contribute to the observed age-related disparities. These findings highlight the need for individualized treatment decisions for older patients with metastatic prostate cancer, taking into account age, tumour grade, PSA and social factors to better balance potential benefits and risks. Original Source: https://www.emjreviews.com/urology/news/age-linked-to-higher-mortality-in-metastatic-prostate-cancer/ Category: Tags: Publish Date: 2026-04-30 17:33:00
