FINDINGS A study led by researchers from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center sheds light on testosterone recovery following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer, providing key insights for optimizing patient care. The investigators found baseline testosterone, age, and the duration of ADT are significant predictors of testosterone recovery. The study, which analyzed data from five major randomized controlled trials involving 1,444 patients, demonstrates that testosterone recovery can vary significantly across individuals.
The study also introduces a nomogram, a predictive tool that allows physicians to estimate recovery times based on patient-specific characteristics. BACKGROUND ADT, frequently used in combination with radiotherapy to treat prostate cancer, significantly lowers testosterone levels, leading to side effects such as fatigue, loss of libido and mood changes, which can impact patients' quality of life. Understanding testosterone recovery after ADT is crucial for improving patient outcomes, as it enables physicians to balance the cancer-fighting benefits of testosterone suppression with its debilitating side effects.
This study provides a much-needed framework to help patients anticipate their recovery timeline and manage these side effects more effectively. RESULTS The researchers found recovery time is influenced by the length of ADT treatment, with older age and lower baseline testosterone levels a.
