Testosterone shots may ease side effects in prostate cancer survivors

NCT ID NCT03716739

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This phase 2 trial tested whether testosterone replacement therapy could safely improve symptoms like low sex drive and fatigue in 136 men who had their prostate removed for low-risk prostate cancer. Participants received weekly testosterone injections or a placebo for 12 weeks. The study tracked PSA levels and sexual activity to see if the treatment helped without causing cancer to return.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a way to ease sexual and fatigue-related symptoms in prostate cancer survivors without raising short-term cancer recurrence risk.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 136 men who had very low-risk cancer. Testosterone may still trigger cancer growth in other patients, and long-term safety is not established.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

prostate cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PROSTATE CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

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