123 Total Testosterone Level and Infiltrating Lymphocyte Density within the Prostate: Is There an Optimal Window?

Abstract

It has been suggested that male hypogonadism promotes a pro-inflammatory state within the prostate which may drive the development of a prostatitis-like syndrome. Previous studies by our group demonstrated that hypogonadal men have increased chronic inflammation compared to eugonadal counterparts, however recent evidence suggests that higher levels of total testosterone (TT) may drive inflammation within the prostate as well (1). The aim of this study was to further elucidate the relationship between TT level and prostate lymphocytic infiltration. Prostate specimens from treatment naïve patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) were retrospectively acquired and stained with H&E. Patients were matched for Gleason score, age, and TNM stage, and then stratified by pre-RP TT based on recent studies (1): <293 ng/dL (hypogonadal), 293-464 ng/dL (low eugonadal), >464 ng/dL (high eugonadal). Quantitative analysis of infiltrating lymphocyte density (as cells/mm2) was carried out using ImageJ digital analysis software. ANOVA and two-sided T-test were used to correlate lymphocyte densities with pre-RP TT, as well as other clinical factors associated with prostate inflammation. Patients who had received prior androgen deprivation therapy or treatment with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors were excluded from this study.