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Pre- and post-radical prostatectomy testosterone levels in prostate cancer patients

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 31, pages 145–149 (2019)Cite this article

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Abstract

Radical prostatectomy is one of the treatment of choices for localized prostate cancer. Published data show that radical prostatectomy is associated with both an increase and decrease in testosterone levels. This study aimed to document the changes in pre- and postoperative serum testosterone levels after radical prostatectomy along with the associations between serum testosterone levels and prostate cancer profiles in Thai population. Localized and locally advanced prostate cancer patients who elected to have radical prostatectomy without prior androgen deprivation therapy were included in the study. Patients’ demographic data, pre- and postoperative serum testosterone levels, sex hormone binding globulin, albumin, prostate-specific antigen, and final pathologic reports were collected. Eighty-five prostate cancer patients were included in this study. Mean age was 67.32 years. Mean pre- and postoperative serum testosterone levels were 424.95 ng/dL and 371.94 ng/dL, respectively (p-value < 0.001). There was a greater testosterone reduction in patients with a final pathologic report of Gleason 4 + 3 and above compared with those with a Gleason 3 + 3 and 3 + 4 (p-value = 0.001). No significant association between preoperative testosterone levels and final Gleason scores was observed. This study documented significant postoperative testosterone reductions in prostate cancer patients after a radical prostatectomy. Patients with high Gleason grades had greater testosterone reductions. These findings may have clinical implications for the prediction of postoperative hypogonadal states in prostate cancer patients.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mr. Nattawut Unwanatham (Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ramathibodi Hospital) and Mrs. Kaewjai Tepsuthumarat (Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Khonkaen University) for their contribution to the statistical analysis.

Funding

This study was supported by Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Supanut Lumbiganon, Suthep Patcharatrakul, Wisoot Khongcharoensombat & Premsant Sangkum

  2. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khonkaen University, Khonkaen, Thailand

    Supanut Lumbiganon

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  1. Supanut Lumbiganon
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Correspondence to Premsant Sangkum.

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Lumbiganon, S., Patcharatrakul, S., Khongcharoensombat, W. et al. Pre- and post-radical prostatectomy testosterone levels in prostate cancer patients. Int J Impot Res 31, 145–149 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-019-0116-0

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