LOW SERUM TESTOSTERONE AND A YOUNGER AGE PREDICT FOR A POOR OUTCOME IN METASTATIC PROSTATE-CANCER

Carcinoma of the prostate gland is one of the most common malignancies in males. This study was undertaken to determine which factors predic t the course and outcome of patients treated with first line hormonal manipulation. A total of 134 patients with Stage D-2 prostate cancer w ho received androgen deprivation therapy were studied. Pretreatment pa rameters analyzed were age, performance status, analgesia usage, concu rrent disease, histologic differentiation, hemoglobin, leukocyte and p latelet count, serum creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydro genase, prostate specific antigen, total and prostatic acid phosphatas e, serum testosterone, follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormone le vels, number of metastatic sites and bone scan grade. Only initial ser um testosterone (> 10 nmol/l) had a positive impact on response (p = 0 .0304), whereas age older than 60 years had a positive impact on time to progression (16 vs. 11 months, p = 0.0414). Both serum testosterone (26 vs. 20 months, p = 0.003), and age (28 vs. 17 months, p = 0.036) had a significant influence on overall survival. Low testosterone, ind icating androgen independence, and a younger age, seem to result in a more aggressive disease and a poorer prognosis in advanced prostate ca ncer.