Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions

Male Pattern Baldness and Prostate Cancer

Is there a pathophysiologic connection?

Publish date:: February 26, 2015

Male pattern baldness at age 45 is associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer, according to an analysis of 39,070 men in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening trial.

Compared with no hair loss, frontal plus moderate vertex baldness at age 45 years was significantly associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer (HR, 1.39). Hair loss was not associated with nonaggressive or overall prostate cancer risk.

The study authors suggest a common pathophysiologic mechanism between male pattern baldness and aggressive prostate cancer.

Citation: Zhou CK, Pfeiffer RM, Cleary SD, et al. Relationship between male pattern baldness and the risk of aggressive prostate cancer: an analysis of the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(5):419-425. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2014.55.4279.

This Week's Must Reads

Younger adults present with more advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma,

PDAC: Tumor reduction after neoadjuvant therapy may predict postsurgical survival,

Mortality risks rise with age, infections, but not inhibitor status in persons with non-severe hemophilia A,

‘Impressive’ local control with MRI-guided brachytherapy in cervical cancer,

U.S. mothers underestimate role breastfeeding plays in curbing breast cancer,