Testosterone suppression and recovery in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with intermittent androgen deprivation therapy with relugolix

Ther Adv Urol. 2024 Nov 8:16:17562872241293779. doi: 10.1177/17562872241293779. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy (iADT) may result in measurable improvements in quality of life over continuous ADT in patients with advanced prostate cancer (aPC). Here, we studied time to castration and testosterone recovery in real-world patients with aPC undergoing iADT with relugolix.

Methods and design: Eligibility criteria for this retrospective study were histologically confirmed through the diagnosis of aPC and initiation of iADT with relugolix. Primary endpoints were time to castrate level of testosterone after relugolix initiation and time to recovery to noncastrate levels after relugolix discontinuation.

Results: Overall, 25 patients with aPC were treated with iADT and with relugolix. Median time to serum testosterone <50 ng/dL was 1.13 months [range 0.67-2.5 months]. The median time to recovery >50 ng/dL was 1.4 months [range 0.83-6.57 months] from holding treatment with relugolix.

Conclusion: iADT with relugolix is associated with a rapid time to testosterone suppression and recovery. These results may guide patients' counseling and monitoring of serum testosterone and PSA levels in patients wishing to pursue iADT for aPC.

Keywords: Regulolix; advanced prostate cancer; intermittent ADT.