13
Apr 2021
High levels of testosterone in men linked to increased melanoma risk
Researchers have found that men with high levels of testosterone have a greater risk of developing the potentially deadly skin cancer.
Cancer Research UK, who funded the study, have said that in the UK, one in 36 males and one in 47 females will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime. They added that 86 per cent of melanoma cases were preventable, commonly caused by staying out in the sun or the use of sunbeds, but other factors also played a role in who was most at risk, including genetics and age.
Dr Eleanor Watts of the University of Oxford and first author of the research, said that testosterone levels in men may also be a factor. “There has been indirect evidence for testosterone and melanoma before, but this is the first time we have been able to look directly at the hormones in the blood. Although we have seen associations of prostate, breast and endometrial cancer (with testosterone) before, this is the first time we have seen an association with risk of melanoma in men.”
The research involved the study of data relating to levels of testosterone in blood samples collected by the UK Biobank from 182,600 men and 122,100 postmenopausal women aged 40 to 69. All participants were cancer free for a minimum of two years after the samples were taken, and were not taking hormone-related medication at the start of the study.
The results of the study showed that for men, greater levels of testosterone were associated with a higher risk of developing malignant melanoma.
In other findings, higher levels of testosterone were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in men, while in postmenopausal women, higher levels of testosterone were associated with an increased chance of breast and endometrial cancer.
Hashim Ahmed, professor of urology at Imperial College London, said of the findings “This large study showing a possible link of testosterone to skin cancer adds an insight into another cancer that could be prevented or treated using hormones. We already treat prostate cancer using anti-testosterone medication and there is some evidence that prostate cancer could be prevented with anti-testosterone medication, and I look forward to seeing whether similar approaches might be useful for melanoma”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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