Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Andrea, University 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy.
To investigate the relationship between androgens and prostate cancer in patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy.
Patients scheduled for open radical prostatectomy were enrolled. Blood samples were collected before prostate biopsy and 12 months later to evaluate testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), PSA, calculated free and bioavailable testosterone.
44 patients were consecutively enrolled. 15 patients (34%) presented a Gleason score (GS) of 6, 24 patients GS 7 (54%), 1 patient (2%) GS 8, and 4 patients GS 9 (9%). Mean prostate cancer volume was 4.3 ± 5.7 cm(3). 24 patients presented a pT2 stage, 16 a pT3a stage, and 4 a pT3b stage. Positive surgical margins were detected in 12 patients (27.3%). No significant change of testosterone (4.21 ± 1.49 vs. 4.00 ± 1.48 ng/ml, p = 0.46), free testosterone (9.01 ± 3.64 vs. 8.85 ± 3.04 pg/ml, p = 0.83), SHBG (38 ± 14.39 vs. 38.5 ± 17.23 nmol/l, p = 0.71), calculated free testosterone (0.091 ± 0.13 vs. 0.067 ± 0.026, p = 0.563), and bioavailable testosterone (1.89 ± 0.722 vs. 1.88 ± 0.53, p = 0.912) was observed.
In our single-center study, prostate cancer does not impact on serum androgen levels, however our results should be confirmed in a larger study.
Written by:
De Nunzio C, Carluccini A, Cicione A, Squillacciotti S, Trucchi A, Cantiani A, Leonardo C, Tubaro A.
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Reference: Urol Int. 2011 Jan 21. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1159/000322964
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21252482
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