According to a new study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, a researcher found that testosterone increases the risk of prostate tumors and exacerbates the effects of carcinogenic chemical exposure in rats. He urged men who have not been diagnosed with hypogonadism Be cautious when administering testosterone therapy. Endocrinology.
In the past decade, the use of testosterone has skyrocketed among older men seeking to boost energy and feel younger. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that despite concerns about potential cardiovascular risks, the number of American men starting testosterone therapy has almost quadrupled since 2000.
The Endocrine Society’s clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of testosterone in adult men recommend that testosterone be prescribed only for men with significantly low hormone levels, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, or other symptoms of hypogonadism. Online: http://www.endocrine.org/~/ media/endosociety/Files/Publications/Clinical%20Practice%20Guidelines/FINAL-Androgens-in-Men-Standalone.pdf
“This study shows that testosterone itself is a weak carcinogen in male rats,” said the author of the study and Dr. Maarten C. Bosland of DVSc from the University of Illinois at Chicago. “When it is combined with carcinogenic chemicals, testosterone creates a suitable environment for tumor development. If these same findings are established in humans, then public health problems will become a serious cause.”
Two dose response studies examined the incidence of prostate cancer in rats. Rats were given testosterone via a sustained-release implant device. Before injecting testosterone into rats, some animals were injected with the carcinogenic chemical N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU). These rats were compared with a control group that received MNU but implanted an empty sustained-release device.
Among rats that received testosterone without carcinogenic chemicals, 10% to 18% developed prostate cancer. Testosterone treatment alone did not induce specific tumors in other sites, but compared with control rats, it caused a significant increase in the number of rats with malignant tumors at any site. When rats are exposed to testosterone and carcinogens, this treatment causes 50% to 71% of rats to develop prostate cancer. Even if the hormone dose is too low to increase the level of testosterone in the blood, half of the mice still suffer from prostate tumors. Animals exposed to carcinogenic chemicals but not to testosterone did not develop prostate cancer.
“Because the development of testosterone therapy is relatively new, and prostate cancer is a slowly developing disease, there is currently no data to determine whether testosterone increases the risk of prostate cancer in humans,” Boslan said. “Although human studies have been conducted, it is wise to limit testosterone prescriptions to men with symptomatic clinical hypogonadism, and to avoid men using testosterone for non-medical purposes, including addressing normal signs of aging.”
The study titled “Testosterone therapy is an effective tumor promoter for rat prostate” has been published online before printing.
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Post time: Sep-09-2021