Understanding the role of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in the development and progression of prostate cancer is an important concept in treating patients with symptoms of hypogonadism.
This article revealed a small number of mostly retrospective, observational studies describing the use of TRT in the general population, in men with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), in men with a history of treated prostate cancer, and in men on active surveillance for prostate cancer. The current literature does not report a statistically significant increase in the development or progression of prostate cancer in men receiving testosterone replacement for symptomatic hypogonadism, and the prostate saturation theory provides a model explaining the basis for these results. The use of TRT in men with a history of prostate cancer is considered experimental, but future results from randomized controlled trials could lead to a change in our current treatment approach.
Written by:
Warburton D, Hobaugh C, Wang G, Lin H, Wang R. Are you the author?
Division of Urology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Department of Urology; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Reference: Asian J Androl. 2015 Apr 10. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.150841
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25865848