Low Testosterone Level Worsens Prostate Cancer: Study

Prostate cancer patients who have low testosterone levels face higher chance of progression in their disease, says a new study. “These results suggest low levels of testosterone are associated with more aggressive prostate cancer,” said Ignacio San Francisco from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile who led the study.

San Francisco and his team found that men who saw a progression of their disease had significantly lower free testosterone levels than the men who did not progress to active treatment.

They found no particular link between total testosterone concentrations, but they did see a trend towards increased risk of the disease and lower levels of the hormone.

As part of the study, the researchers tracked 154 men who were on active surveillance for their prostate cancer between January 2000 and July 2012.

San Francisco and colleagues said that for men who were in the low-risk prostate cancer category, “active surveillance” could be the main form of treatment where the disease is watched closely for any progression without medications, surgery or radiation. In about one third of cases, the disease will need active treatment.

Source-Medindia