PCPT Results Could Affect Trial on Testosterone Replacement

The Institute of Medicine was considering whether to proceed with a large-scale clinical trial on testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) in older men, taking into account the PCPT results that showed finasteride reduced prostate cancer risk by nearly 25%. The proposed trial, named ESTEEM, aimed to study 6,000 men aged 65 and older over six years to detect a 30% increase in clinical prostate cancer. TRT was used to address age-related issues like osteoporosis and erectile dysfunction, but data on its benefits and risks were limited. Experts expressed concerns about the trial's feasibility, given the long growth period of prostate cancer and the challenge of predicting which cancers are threatening. Frequent PSA testing was suggested as important if the trial proceeded.