Recovery of serum testosterone after neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy and radical radiotherapy in localized prostate cancer

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To prospectively evaluate the time‐course of recovery of serum testosterone levels after a short course of luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa) and radical radiotherapy to the prostate. PATIENTS AND METHODS Testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) were sequentially measured prospectively in 59 men who received short‐course LHRHa treatment and radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer. Measurements were made before treatment (baseline), during LHRHa treatment, and at 6, 12, 18, 24 and >40 weeks after the last LHRHa injection. RESULTS The median (range) time from the first to last LHRHa injection was 116 (54–194) days. The mean (95% confidence interval) testosterone levels (in nmol/L) at baseline, during treatment and at 6, 12, 18, 24 and >40 weeks afterward were 12.0 (10.8–13.1), 0.6 (0.5–0.7), 1.4 (0.6–2.2), 11.4 (9.7–13), 12.2 (10.5–14), 10.4 (8.9–12) and 11.7 (10.5–13). Four men had low baseline testosterone levels (<6.1 nmol/L). At 6 weeks after the last LHRHa injection, no men had testosterone levels in the ‘normal’ range; 35% were in the normal range at 12 weeks, 85% at 18 weeks, 89% at 24 weeks, and 96% at 1 year. CONCLUSION After LHRHa treatment and radiotherapy, the testosterone levels of most men had recovered to normal by 18–24 weeks after the last LHRHa injection.

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