Androgen for Leydig Cell Proliferation (ALCeP)

University of Roma La Sapienza

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 3

Phase 2

Conditions

Klinefelter Syndrome

Hypergonadotropic Hypogonadism

Hypergonadotropic Azospermia

Hypergonadotropic Cryptozoospermia

Treatments

Drug: Testosterone undecanoate

Drug: Castor Oil

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01206270

160/10

Details and patient eligibility

About

Patients with infertility often presents alterations at ultrasonographic examination of the testis. These alterations include a much higher incidence of small, multiple, non-palpable hypoechoic micro-nodules that can show internal vascularization. This finding often create alarm and anxiety, because it has to be placed in a differential diagnosis versus low-stage malignant germ cell tumors. Nevertheless, explorative surgery reveal that a consistent number of these lesion are benign, due to Leydig cell hyperplasia or Leydig cell tumours. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of androgen therapy on the size and number of non-palpable hypoechoic micro-nodules in patients with elevated gonadotropin levels.

Full description

Patients with the testicular dysgenesis syndrome, that comprises a variable spectrum of clinical manifestations, such as infertility, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, impaired spermatogenesis and testicular germ cell neoplasms, often develop alterations in the Leydig cell compartment. These alterations range from abnormal localization and clustering to hyperplasia or tumorous formation.

Leydig cell tumors (LCTs), although uncommon in the general population, are the most frequent non-germ cell testicular neoplasms, and their incidence has been reported increasingly growing, especially in infertile patients. Given that the focal areas of Leydig cell hyperplasia are nowadays easily detectable at ultrasonography of the testis (US), as small non-palpable hypoechoic micro-nodules that can show internal vascularization, their finding create a diagnostic challenge versus low-stage malignant germ cell tumors.

Patients with testicular dysgenesis syndrome in general exhibit an elevation of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), but in these patients, very frequently, even Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is above the reference range. The latter can work as a growth factor for Leydig cells. Since exogenous testosterone can suppress LH levels, it could be that androgen therapy could revert the LH-induced growth stimulation of Leydig cell compartment.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of androgen therapy on the size and number of non-palpable hypoechoic micro-nodules in patients with elevated gonadotropin levels.

The purpose of this study is also to evaluate whether the behavior (UltraSonographic appearance, US) of the non-palpable hypoechoic micro-nodules during a 4-month trial of testosterone therapy can offer a novel diagnostic tool in the differential diagnosis of benign versus malignant testicular nodules.

The trial will be open only for patients with multiple non-palpable hypoechoic micro-nodules that have an elevation of both FSH and LH and that are not seeking conception.

Participants in the study will be randomized to one of two treatment groups, receiving either testosterone undecanoate (low-dose androgen) or placebo, for two 6 months. All participants will be evaluated for safety at the beginning of the study and at 2, 4, and 6 months with careful history, physical examination, blood sampling and testicular ultrasonography. Patients will also be offered the possibility to perform Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the testis at baseline and after treatment, and/or surgical enucleation of the lesions.

Enrollment

56 patients

Sex

Male

Ages

18 to 60 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Non-palpable Multiple hypoechoic testicular nodules (with the largest having a diameter > 2 mm and < 12 mm)
Serum Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) > 7 mIU/ml (m-International-Unit/ml)
Serum Luteinizing hormone (LH) > 7 IU (International-Unit/ml)
Infertility: Klinefelter Syndrome, Hypergonadotropic Hypogonadism, Hypergonadotropic Azospermia, Hypergonadotropic Cryptozoospermia
negative testicular tumors markers: beta-hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin), alpha-FP (alpha-Feto-Protein), CEA (Carcinoembryonic antigen), LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase), ferritin, PLAP (Placental Alkaline Phosphatase).

Exclusion criteria

Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism
FSH o LH < 7 UI
non-homogeneous testicular lesion > 12 mm
positive testicular tumors markers: beta-hCG, alpha-FP, CEA, LDH, ferritin, PLAP
patients with contraindication to testosterone therapy: prostate cancer, PSA>4 ng/ml, severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, Hb>17, Htc>52%, severe urinary retention
desire to conceive
history of germ-cell testicular neoplasia