Effect of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on Prostate Tissue [Short Title: DHT-3]

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to understand the effects of a male hormone normally made in the body called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the prostate gland that is located under the bladder. The knowledge gained from this study may be used to help in the future to develop a safe male hormonal contraceptive to prevent pregnancy, in the safe treatment of low male hormone levels in men, and in the treatment and prevention of diseases of the prostate. The investigators will be giving DHT in a gel form, to be applied to the skin, or a placebo gel (with no active drug in it). The investigators want to see the effects of DHT on levels of hormones in the blood and in the prostate gland itself. In addition, the investigators will be studying the effects of DHT on the cells and genes expressed within the prostate. The effect of DHT on the prostate is not known. Some studies suggest blocking production of DHT in the prostate helps growth of the gland with aging (a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short) and may prevent prostate cancer. On the other hand, DHT administration may shrink the prostate, suggesting it may be beneficial for some men. Therefore, further studies looking at the effect of DHT on the prostate are needed.

Timeline

Start

2007-06

Primary completion

2009-01

Completion

2009-01

Publications

• Background Huggins C, Hodges CV. Studies on prostatic cancer: I. The effect of castration, of estrogen and of androgen injection on serum phosphatases in metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. 1941. J Urol. 2002 Jul;168(1):9-12. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(05)64820-3. No abstract available.
• Background Bhasin S, Singh AB, Mac RP, Carter B, Lee MI, Cunningham GR. Managing the risks of prostate disease during testosterone replacement therapy in older men: recommendations for a standardized monitoring plan. J Androl. 2003 May-Jun;24(3):299-311. doi: 10.1002/j.1939-4640.2003.tb02676.x. No abstract available.
• Background Morgentaler A, Bruning CO 3rd, DeWolf WC. Occult prostate cancer in men with low serum testosterone levels. JAMA. 1996 Dec 18;276(23):1904-6.
• Background Schatzl G, Madersbacher S, Thurridl T, Waldmuller J, Kramer G, Haitel A, Marberger M. High-grade prostate cancer is associated with low serum testosterone levels. Prostate. 2001 Apr;47(1):52-8. doi: 10.1002/pros.1046.
• Background Wu FC, von Eckardstein A. Androgens and coronary artery disease. Endocr Rev. 2003 Apr;24(2):183-217. doi: 10.1210/er.2001-0025.
• Background Bagatell CJ, Heiman JR, Matsumoto AM, Rivier JE, Bremner WJ. Metabolic and behavioral effects of high-dose, exogenous testosterone in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994 Aug;79(2):561-7. doi: 10.1210/jcem.79.2.8045977.
• Background Bartsch W, Klein H, Schiemann U, Bauer HW, Voigt KD. Enzymes of androgen formation and degradation in the human prostate. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1990;595:53-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1990.tb34282.x. No abstract available.
• Background Bartsch W, Krieg M, Becker H, Mohrmann J, Voigt KD. Endogenous androgen levels in epithelium and stroma of human benign prostatic hyperplasia and normal prostate. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1982 Aug;100(4):634-40. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.1000634.
• Background Page ST, Lin DW, Mostaghel EA, Hess DL, True LD, Amory JK, Nelson PS, Matsumoto AM, Bremner WJ. Persistent intraprostatic androgen concentrations after medical castration in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Oct;91(10):3850-6. doi: 10.1210/jc.2006-0968. Epub 2006 Aug 1.
• Background Wilson JD. The role of 5alpha-reduction in steroid hormone physiology. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2001;13(7-8):673-8. doi: 10.1071/rd01074.
• Background Andriole GL, Humphrey P, Ray P, Gleave ME, Trachtenberg J, Thomas LN, Lazier CB, Rittmaster RS. Effect of the dual 5alpha-reductase inhibitor dutasteride on markers of tumor regression in prostate cancer. J Urol. 2004 Sep;172(3):915-9. doi: 10.1097/01.ju.0000136430.37245.b9.
• Background Norman RW, Coakes KE, Wright AS, Rittmaster RS. Androgen metabolism in men receiving finasteride before prostatectomy. J Urol. 1993 Nov;150(5 Pt 2):1736-9. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)35882-2.
• Background Kunelius P, Lukkarinen O, Hannuksela ML, Itkonen O, Tapanainen JS. The effects of transdermal dihydrotestosterone in the aging male: a prospective, randomized, double blind study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Apr;87(4):1467-72. doi: 10.1210/jcem.87.4.8138.
• Background Ly LP, Jimenez M, Zhuang TN, Celermajer DS, Conway AJ, Handelsman DJ. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of transdermal dihydrotestosterone gel on muscular strength, mobility, and quality of life in older men with partial androgen deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Sep;86(9):4078-88. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.9.7821.
• Background Nelson PS, Clegg N, Arnold H, Ferguson C, Bonham M, White J, Hood L, Lin B. The program of androgen-responsive genes in neoplastic prostate epithelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Sep 3;99(18):11890-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.182376299. Epub 2002 Aug 16.
• Page ST, Lin DW, Mostaghel EA, Marck BT, Wright JL, Wu J, Amory JK, Nelson PS, Matsumoto AM. Dihydrotestosterone administration does not increase intraprostatic androgen concentrations or alter prostate androgen action in healthy men: a randomized-controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Feb;96(2):430-7. doi: 10.1210/jc.2010-1865. Epub 2010 Dec 22.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.