Reply to the Letter to the Editor 'Androgen Deprivation Therapy May Constitute a More Effective Prophylactic Than Therapeutic Strategy in COVID-19 Patients' by N. Bennani and I. M. Bennani-Baiti
October 2020
in “
Annals of Oncology
”
TLDR Androgen deprivation therapy might help prevent severe COVID-19, but more research is needed.
The document discussed the potential role of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as a prophylactic rather than a therapeutic strategy for COVID-19. An observational study from the Veneto Cancer Registry suggested that ADT might reduce the likelihood of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections in prostate cancer patients, but the small sample size (N = 4) limited conclusions about its therapeutic efficacy. A U.S. study with 58 patients indicated that ADT could lower hospitalization and oxygen needs, hinting at its potential to mitigate severe COVID-19 complications. The mechanism might involve androgen regulation of TMPRSS2 expression, though evidence was inconclusive. The authors emphasized the need for larger studies and ongoing trials to clarify ADT's role in COVID-19 treatment and highlighted the influence of androgens on immune responses, which could affect COVID-19 severity.
