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Clinical Research

Testosterone recovery in the off-treatment time in prostate cancer patients undergoing intermittent androgen deprivation therapy

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 15, pages 296–302 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background:

Intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) for prostate cancer was studied with the objective of reducing the side effects of treatment and potentially delaying the development of hormone resistance. There also appears to be a quality of life benefit during off-treatment intervals owing to the recovery of serum testosterone levels.

Methods:

In this multicentre European prospective randomised phase III trial EC507, testosterone serum concentrations were analysed in prostate cancer patients with PSA progression after radical prostatectomy. Patients were randomised to a continuous androgen deprivation (CAD) and IAD therapy using a 3-month depot with 11.25 mg leuprorelin acetate as microcapsule formulation. A complete IAD cycle comprises both a 6-month androgen deprivation therapy plus the off-treatment time (OTT).

Results:

Serum testosterone recovery was recorded in 109 patients during OTT in the IAD group. Testosterone recovery to baseline values was achieved in 79.3% during the first and in 64.9% during the second IAD cycle, respectively. Median time to testosterone normalisation was 100 days in the first and 115 days in the second cycle, respectively. No significant difference was observed up to 1000 days between IAD and CAD with regard to time to androgen-independent progression. This is the first prospective study of leuprorelin acetate 11.25 mg demonstrating normalisation of testosterone levels in the off-treatment period in patients undergoing IAD.

Conclusions:

The prerequisite of an IAD treatment is the testosterone recovery during off-treatment periods. In this study, in patients with PSA relapse after radical prostatectomy, a real achievement of intermittent castration with normalisation of testosterone levels during off-treatment periods could be confirmed.

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Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by Takeda Pharma GmbH Germany and Takeda Italia Farmaceutici SPA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facharztzentrum in den Akademischen Städtischen Kliniken Offenbach, Offenbach, Germany

    U W Tunn

  2. Department of Urology, Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy

    G Canepa

  3. Urological Practice, Offenbach, Germany

    A Kochanowsky

  4. Medical Consultant, Stolberg, Germany

    E Kienle

Authors
  1. U W Tunn
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  2. G Canepa
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  4. E Kienle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to U W Tunn.

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Competing interests

Professor Ulf Tunn is consultant and lecturer for Abbott, Astellas, Bayer Health, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis and Takeda. Dr Giorgio Canepa and Dr Andreas Kochanowsky declare no potential conflict of interest. Dr Erika Kienle is consultant and lecturer for Abbott and Takeda.

Appendix

Appendix

Table a1 Study investigators involved from Italian and German centres
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Tunn, U., Canepa, G., Kochanowsky, A. et al. Testosterone recovery in the off-treatment time in prostate cancer patients undergoing intermittent androgen deprivation therapy. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 15, 296–302 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2012.12

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