Study Results
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View full resultsBasic Information
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COMPLETED
PHASE3
790 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2009-11-30
2018-12-31
Brief Summary
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The primary specific aims are to test the hypotheses that testosterone treatment of elderly men whose serum testosterone concentrations are unequivocally low - and who have symptoms and objectively measured abnormalities in at least one of five areas that could be due to low testosterone (physical or sexual function, vitality, cognition, and anemia) - will result in more favorable changes in those abnormalities than placebo treatment.
Two additional trials have been incorporated into the T Trial. Only men enrolled in the T Trial are eligible to participate in these trials.
* The Cardiovascular Trial will examine if testosterone treatment results in more favorable changes in cardiovascular risk factors, compared to placebo.
* The Bone Trial will test the hypothesis that testosterone treatment will increase volumetric trabecular bone mineral density (vBMD) of the lumbar spine as measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), compared with placebo treatment.
A Pharmacokinetic (PK) Study is also being conducted within the context of the interventional T Trial. It will examine the variability of the serum testosterone (T) concentration after application of testosterone gel or placebo, four months after the start of treatment.
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Detailed Description
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Participants will be treated with testosterone or placebo gel for 1 year. The dose will be adjusted in a blinded fashion to achieve a target T level range. Participants will be followed for one additional year following the treatment phase to assess adverse events.
* Men participating in the Cardiovascular Trial will be assessed for changes in atherosclerotic plaque burden from 0 to 12 months.
* Men participating in the Bone Trial will be assessed by QCT of the spine and hip, DXA of the spine and hip and clinical fractures at 0 and 12 months.
* Men participating in the PK Study will attend 3 additional study visits for blood draws at the time of the 4-month assessment.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
QUADRUPLE
Study Groups
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AndroGel® (testosterone gel)
The initial dose of AndroGel will be 5.0 g (containing 50 mg of testosterone) once a day. Participants will apply AndroGel once daily to the shoulders, abdomen or upper arms. The serum testosterone concentration will be measured monthly for the first three months, then at months 6, 9 and 12. If the testosterone concentration is not between 500 and 800 ng/dL at any time point, the dose will be either increased by increments of 1.25-2.5 g/day, up to a maximum of 15 g/day or decreased by increments of 1.25-3.75 ng/day. Participants will be taught how to apply the gel and they will be provided with written instructions and precautions. This information will be reviewed at each contact and visit.
AndroGel® (testosterone gel)
Testosterone levels will be measured at regular intervals in order to achieve a testosterone level in the desired range.
Placebo gel
Placebo gel is identical to the testosterone gel and is supplied in an identical pump bottle container. It is applied to the shoulders, abdomen or upper arms once a day. Participants will be taught how to apply the gel and they will be provided with written instructions and precautions. This information will be reviewed at each contact and visit.
Placebo
Testosterone levels will be measured at regular intervals.
Interventions
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AndroGel® (testosterone gel)
Testosterone levels will be measured at regular intervals in order to achieve a testosterone level in the desired range.
Placebo
Testosterone levels will be measured at regular intervals.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Total serum testosterone concentration \< 275 and \< 300 ng/dL at 7 -10 AM at each of two screening visits
Exclusion Criteria
* Severe lower urinary tract symptoms (score of \> 19) by the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire
* Hemoglobin \<10 g/dL or \>16.0 g/dL
* Sleep apnea, diagnosed but untreated
* Alcohol or substance abuse within the past year (based on self report)
* Angina not controlled by treatment
* NYHA class III or IV congestive heart failure
* Myocardial infarction within the previous 3 months before entry
* Stroke within the previous 3 months before entry
* Severe pulmonary disease that precludes physical function tests
* Serum creatinine \>2.2 mg/dL; ALT 3x upper limit of normal; hemoglobin A1c \>8.5%, TSH \> 7.5mIU/L
* Diagnosis or treatment for cancer within the past 3 years, with the exception of nonmelanotic skin cancer
* Body mass index (BMI) \>37 kg/m2
* Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) Score \<24
* Major psychiatric disorders, including major depression (PHQ-9 score \> 14), mania, hypomania, psychosis, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders, that are untreated, unstable, have resulted in hospitalization or medication change within the previous three months, or would result in inability to complete the trial efficacy instruments. Subjects whose disorders have been stable while being treated for more than three months are eligible.
* Use of the following medications within the previous three months:
* drugs that affect serum testosterone concentration
* rhGH or megestrol acetate
* introduction of anti-depressant medication
* daily use of prednisone for more than two weeks
* Opiate use within the past three months
* Skin conditions at the testosterone gel application site, such as ulcer, erosion, lichenification, inflammation, or crust, or generalized skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema that might affect testosterone absorption or tolerability of the testosterone gel
* Known skin intolerance to alcohol or allergy to any of the ingredients of testosterone gel
65 Years
MALE
Yes
Sponsors
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National Institute on Aging (NIA)
NIH
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
NIH
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
NIH
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
NIH
Abbott
INDUSTRY
University of Pennsylvania
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Peter J Snyder, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Pennsylvania
Locations
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
University of California San Diego
La Jolla, California, United States
Center for Men's Health LA BioMed at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, California, United States
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
The Bronx, New York, United States
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Seattle, Washington, United States
Countries
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References
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Lee H, Hwang EC, Oh CK, Lee S, Yu HS, Lim JS, Kim HW, Walsh T, Kim MH, Jung JH, Dahm P. Testosterone replacement in men with sexual dysfunction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 Jan 15;1(1):CD013071. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013071.pub2.
Stephens-Shields AJ, Snyder PJ, Ellenberg SS, Taylor L, Bhasin S. Relation of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, and Estradiol With Changes in Outcomes Measures in the Testosterone Trials. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Apr 19;107(5):1257-1269. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac028.
Artz AS, Stephens-Shields AJ, Bhasin S, Ellenberg SS, Cohen HJ, Snyder PJ. Markers of Iron Flux during Testosterone-Mediated Erythropoiesis in Older Men with Unexplained or Iron-Deficiency Anemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Nov 1;105(11):3396-403. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa521.
Shaikh K, Ellenberg SS, Nakanishi R, Snyder PJ, Lee J, Wenger NK, Lewis CE, Swerdloff RS, Preston P, Hamal S, Stephens-Sheilds A, Bhasin S, Cherukuri L, Cauley JA, Crandall JP, Cunningham GR, Ensrud KE, Matsumoto AM, Molich ME, Alla VM, Birudaraju D, Nezarat N, Rai K, Almeida S, Roy SK, Sheikh M, Trad G, Budoff MJ. Biomarkers and Noncalcified Coronary Artery Plaque Progression in Older Men Treated With Testosterone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Jul 1;105(7):2142-9. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgz242.
Bhasin S, Ellenberg SS, Storer TW, Basaria S, Pahor M, Stephens-Shields AJ, Cauley JA, Ensrud KE, Farrar JT, Cella D, Matsumoto AM, Cunningham GR, Swerdloff RS, Wang C, Lewis CE, Molitch ME, Barrett-Connor E, Crandall JP, Hou X, Preston P, Cifelli D, Snyder PJ, Gill TM. Effect of testosterone replacement on measures of mobility in older men with mobility limitation and low testosterone concentrations: secondary analyses of the Testosterone Trials. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018 Nov;6(11):879-890. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30171-2.
Mohler ER 3rd, Ellenberg SS, Lewis CE, Wenger NK, Budoff MJ, Lewis MR, Barrett-Connor E, Swerdloff RS, Stephens-Shields A, Bhasin S, Cauley JA, Crandall JP, Cunningham GR, Ensrud KE, Gill TM, Matsumoto AM, Molitch ME, Pahor M, Preston PE, Hou X, Cifelli D, Snyder PJ. The Effect of Testosterone on Cardiovascular Biomarkers in the Testosterone Trials. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Feb 1;103(2):681-688. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-02243.
Resnick SM, Matsumoto AM, Stephens-Shields AJ, Ellenberg SS, Gill TM, Shumaker SA, Pleasants DD, Barrett-Connor E, Bhasin S, Cauley JA, Cella D, Crandall JP, Cunningham GR, Ensrud KE, Farrar JT, Lewis CE, Molitch ME, Pahor M, Swerdloff RS, Cifelli D, Anton S, Basaria S, Diem SJ, Wang C, Hou X, Snyder PJ. Testosterone Treatment and Cognitive Function in Older Men With Low Testosterone and Age-Associated Memory Impairment. JAMA. 2017 Feb 21;317(7):717-727. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.21044.
Budoff MJ, Ellenberg SS, Lewis CE, Mohler ER 3rd, Wenger NK, Bhasin S, Barrett-Connor E, Swerdloff RS, Stephens-Shields A, Cauley JA, Crandall JP, Cunningham GR, Ensrud KE, Gill TM, Matsumoto AM, Molitch ME, Nakanishi R, Nezarat N, Matsumoto S, Hou X, Basaria S, Diem SJ, Wang C, Cifelli D, Snyder PJ. Testosterone Treatment and Coronary Artery Plaque Volume in Older Men With Low Testosterone. JAMA. 2017 Feb 21;317(7):708-716. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.21043.
Roy CN, Snyder PJ, Stephens-Shields AJ, Artz AS, Bhasin S, Cohen HJ, Farrar JT, Gill TM, Zeldow B, Cella D, Barrett-Connor E, Cauley JA, Crandall JP, Cunningham GR, Ensrud KE, Lewis CE, Matsumoto AM, Molitch ME, Pahor M, Swerdloff RS, Cifelli D, Hou X, Resnick SM, Walston JD, Anton S, Basaria S, Diem SJ, Wang C, Schrier SL, Ellenberg SS. Association of Testosterone Levels With Anemia in Older Men: A Controlled Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2017 Apr 1;177(4):480-490. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9540.
Snyder PJ, Kopperdahl DL, Stephens-Shields AJ, Ellenberg SS, Cauley JA, Ensrud KE, Lewis CE, Barrett-Connor E, Schwartz AV, Lee DC, Bhasin S, Cunningham GR, Gill TM, Matsumoto AM, Swerdloff RS, Basaria S, Diem SJ, Wang C, Hou X, Cifelli D, Dougar D, Zeldow B, Bauer DC, Keaveny TM. Effect of Testosterone Treatment on Volumetric Bone Density and Strength in Older Men With Low Testosterone: A Controlled Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2017 Apr 1;177(4):471-479. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9539.
Cunningham GR, Stephens-Shields AJ, Rosen RC, Wang C, Bhasin S, Matsumoto AM, Parsons JK, Gill TM, Molitch ME, Farrar JT, Cella D, Barrett-Connor E, Cauley JA, Cifelli D, Crandall JP, Ensrud KE, Gallagher L, Zeldow B, Lewis CE, Pahor M, Swerdloff RS, Hou X, Anton S, Basaria S, Diem SJ, Tabatabaie V, Ellenberg SS, Snyder PJ. Testosterone Treatment and Sexual Function in Older Men With Low Testosterone Levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Aug;101(8):3096-104. doi: 10.1210/jc.2016-1645. Epub 2016 Jun 29.
Snyder PJ, Bhasin S, Cunningham GR, Matsumoto AM, Stephens-Shields AJ, Cauley JA, Gill TM, Barrett-Connor E, Swerdloff RS, Wang C, Ensrud KE, Lewis CE, Farrar JT, Cella D, Rosen RC, Pahor M, Crandall JP, Molitch ME, Cifelli D, Dougar D, Fluharty L, Resnick SM, Storer TW, Anton S, Basaria S, Diem SJ, Hou X, Mohler ER 3rd, Parsons JK, Wenger NK, Zeldow B, Landis JR, Ellenberg SS; Testosterone Trials Investigators. Effects of Testosterone Treatment in Older Men. N Engl J Med. 2016 Feb 18;374(7):611-24. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1506119.
Abd Alamir M, Ellenberg SS, Swerdloff RS, Wenger NK, Mohler ER 3rd, Lewis CE, Barrett-Conner E, Nakanishi R, Darabian S, Alani A, Matsumoto S, Nezarat N, Snyder PJ, Budoff MJ. The Cardiovascular Trial of the Testosterone Trials: rationale, design, and baseline data of a clinical trial using computed tomographic imaging to assess the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. Coron Artery Dis. 2016 Mar;27(2):95-103. doi: 10.1097/MCA.0000000000000321.
Cunningham GR, Stephens-Shields AJ, Rosen RC, Wang C, Ellenberg SS, Matsumoto AM, Bhasin S, Molitch ME, Farrar JT, Cella D, Barrett-Connor E, Cauley JA, Cifelli D, Crandall JP, Ensrud KE, Fluharty L, Gill TM, Lewis CE, Pahor M, Resnick SM, Storer TW, Swerdloff RS, Anton S, Basaria S, Diem S, Tabatabaie V, Hou X, Snyder PJ. Association of sex hormones with sexual function, vitality, and physical function of symptomatic older men with low testosterone levels at baseline in the testosterone trials. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Mar;100(3):1146-55. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-3818. Epub 2014 Dec 30.
Meng J, Mostaghel EA, Vakar-Lopez F, Montgomery B, True L, Nelson PS. Testosterone regulates tight junction proteins and influences prostatic autoimmune responses. Horm Cancer. 2011 Jun;2(3):145-56. doi: 10.1007/s12672-010-0063-1.
Related Links
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Find out more information about The Testosterone Trial and the list of participating clinical sites.
Other Identifiers
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