Maintenance of androgen deprivation therapy or testosterone supplementation in the management of castration-resistant prostate cancer: that is the question

Abstract

Purpose: Whether or not androgen receptor (AR) axis could still be targetable in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients with disease progression to next generation hormonal agents (NGHAs) is a controversial issue.

Results: Serum testosterone in CRPC patients has a positive prognostic role and increasing testosterone levels after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) withdrawal or testosterone supplementation, as part of a bipolar androgen therapy (BAT) strategy, has been shown to potentially restore sensitivity to previous lines of NGHAs.

Conclusion: These data suggest that maintenance of ADT in CRPC patients receiving further lines of treatment, as recommended by current international guidelines, could be questionable. Conversely, testosterone supplementation aimed to re-sensitize CRPC to further hormonal manipulation is a strategy worth to be explored in future clinical trials.

Keywords: Androgen deprivation therapy; Bipolar androgen therapy; Castration resistant prostate cancer; Testosterone.