Associations between testosterone levels and incident prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer. a population-based study
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 07/30/2012

Hyde Z et al. – Higher free testosterone was associated with incident prostate cancer. Higher testosterone levels may also be associated with lung cancer.

• This was a population-based cohort study. Demographic and clinical predictors of cancer, and testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured between 2001 and 2004 in 3,635 community-dwelling men aged 70 to 88 years (mean 77 years).
• Cancer notifications were obtained via electronic record linkage until December 31, 2010.

• During a mean follow-up period of 6.7 ± 1.8 years, there were 297, 104, and 82 cases of prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer.
• In adjusted competing risks proportional hazards models, each one SD increase in free testosterone was associated with a 9% increase in prostate cancer risk (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.18), but other hormones were not significantly associated.
• No significant associations were observed between hormonal parameters and colorectal cancer.
• Higher total testosterone was associated with lung cancer.
• Compared with the mean of 15 nmol/L, men with levels of 20 nmol/L were 1.38 times more likely to be cases (95% CI, 1.21–1.57), whereas those with levels of 30 nmol/L were 3.62 times more likely to be cases (95% CI, 2.53–5.18).
• Higher free testosterone was also associated with lung cancer, though SHBG and LH were not.
• Associations were maintained after exclusion of current smokers.