1.Tumour Characteristics and Real-world Treatment Patterns Among Patients Diagnosed With Metastatic Prostate Cancer in Sarawak - A 8-year Review
Tee Zhou Yin ; Fung Hwa Jiang ; Goh Yue Keng ; Teh Guan Chou
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2025;21(No. 1):68-72
Introduction: Numerous novel systemic treatments have emerged for patients with primary metastatic prostate cancer (mPC), addressing both hormone-sensitive (mHSPC) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However,
limited understanding exists in integrating these therapies into clinical practice. This study provides an overview of
mPC, presenting baseline disease characteristics, treatment profiles, and outcomes of mPC specifically in Sarawak.
Materials and methods: Our study focused on registered male patients diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer at
Sarawak General Hospital between 2016 and 2023, aged over 18. Surveys were carried out during routine clinical
practice, covering patient demographics, clinical parameters, primary treatments, follow-up, and outcomes. The
study described treatment patterns following diagnosis. Results: Demographic and tumor profiles of 212 patients
with metastatic prostate cancer in Sarawak General Hospital from 2016- 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with mPC was notably prevalent among individuals of Chinese ethnicity, accounting for 43.4% of cases, with
over 50% of patients presenting with high-volume disease irrespective of ethnicity. The primary treatment modality
for the majority of mPC patients was androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone. Among the cohort, 19.3% (n=41)
experienced disease progression to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) since 2016. Novel hormonal therapy (NHT) emerged as the predominant first-line treatment for mCRPC, administered to 53.7% of patients.
Conclusion: The majority of prostate cancer patients in Sarawak are diagnosed in the metastatic stage and were of
high volume at diagnosis. Aggressive treatment was initiated early in an attempt to improve treatment outcomes and
overall survival.