Prostate cancer does not influence androgen levels: a radical prostatectomy cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between androgens and prostate cancer in patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
In our single-center study, prostate cancer does not impact on serum androgen levels, however our results should be confirmed in a larger study.
Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Andrea, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. cosimodenunzio @ virgilio.it
Cosimo
C
De Nunzio
Alfonso
A
Carluccini
Antonio
A
Cicione
Stefano
S
Squillacciotti
Alberto
A
Trucchi
Andrea
A
Cantiani
Costantino
C
Leonardo
Andrea
A
Tubaro
D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen