Testosterone and Prostate Cancer
摘要
For decades, it was believed that elevated endogenous serum testosterone levels increased the risk of developing prostate cancer and low serum testosterone levels offered protection against it. Despite being constrained in size and duration, recent studies fail to reveal any heightened risk of prostate cancer in individuals undergoing testosterone therapy. Multiple studies demonstrate a correlation between low serum testosterone levels and unfavorable prognostic features in prostate cancer, including the presence of high-grade disease, advanced pathologic stage, and an increased risk of biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy. Notably, the prostate-specific antigen-to-testosterone ratio emerges as a predictive factor for prostate cancer risk in several biopsy studies. These nuanced insights challenge traditional perspectives and emphasize the complex interplay between testosterone levels and prostate cancer dynamics. The saturation model offers a framework to comprehend the intricate relationship, highlighting the need for continued research to refine our understanding of androgen influence on prostate cancer progression and recurrence.