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Testosterone Therapy in Men With Untreated Prostate Cancer
The Journal of Urology, 03/31/2011
Morgentaler A et al. - Testosterone therapy in men with untreated prostate cancer was not associated with prostate cancer progression in the short to medium term. The results are consistent with the saturation model, ie maximal prostate cancer growth is achieved at low androgen concentrations.
Methods- The results of prostate biopsies, serum prostate specific antigen and prostate volume in symptomatic testosterone deficient cases receiving testosterone therapy while undergoing active surveillance for prostate cancer was reported.
- 13 symptomatic testosterone deficient men with untreated prostate cancer received testosterone therapy for a median of 2.5 years (range 1.0 to 8.1).
- Mean age was 58.8 years.
- Gleason score at initial biopsy was 6 in 12 men and 7 in 1.
- Mean serum concentration of total testosterone increased from 238 to 664 ng/dl (p <0.001).
- Mean prostate specific antigen did not change with testosterone therapy (5.5 ± 6.4 vs 3.6 ± 2.6 ng/ml, p = 0.29).
- Prostate volume was unchanged.
- Mean number of follow-up biopsies was 2.
- No cancer was found in 54% of follow-up biopsies.
- Biopsies in 2 men suggested upgrading, and subsequent biopsies in 1 and radical prostatectomy in another indicated no progression.
- No local prostate cancer progression or distant disease was observed.
