Leading experts to shed light on controversial testosterone therapy treatment

The use of testosterone therapy will be the topic of a special panel briefing to be held during the 99th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association on May 11, 2004 in the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Culley C. Carson, M.D. will moderate the briefing, which will feature research on both the prevalence and incidence of androgen deficiency and the use of hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer.

Featured research includes:

• Higher Testosterone Associated with Increased Prostate Cancer Risk: This study explores the association of androgen levels and prostate cancer risk in a group of healthy, aging males.
• Predictors of Quality of Life in Men Undergoing Androgen Deprivation Therapy: The presence of co-morbidities, education levels and patient age when starting androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer may be predictors of health-related quality-of-life outcomes.
• Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Fracture Risk: Bone complications are common in men being treated for prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy. The number of complications appears to be linked to the duration of therapy.
• Prevalence and Incidence of Androgen Deficiency: This study offers the first population-based estimates of the incidence and prevalence of androgen deficiency defined by signs, symptoms and testosterone measurements.

• Racial Differences in Androgen Levels of Prostate Cancer Patients: This study indicates an increased androgen receptor expression in African-American men.

“Androgen deficiency and hypogonadism affect millions of American men, producing erectile dysfunction, changes in bone status and changes in their lifestyles,” Dr. Carson said. “While controversy continues about who to treat and when to treat there appears to be more clear information about the benefits of androgen replacement in patients with hypogonadism to improve their erectile function and lifestyles in general.”

Full abstracts are available online at https://www.auajournals.org/loi/juro/group/d2000.y2004.

Founded in 1902 and headquartered outside Baltimore, MD, the AUA is the preeminent professional organization for urologists. The AUA pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care by carrying out a wide variety of programs for its members.The AUA also offers http://UrologyHealth.org, a patient resource developed by member experts.