According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, testosterone levels do not appear to be associated with risk of developing prostate cancer.

The prostate is a gland of the male reproductive system, which is responsible for producing some of the fluid that transports sperm during ejaculation. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in men.

Prostate cancer is stimulated to grow from exposure to the male hormone testosterone. Standard treatment for prostate cancer often consists of agents that lower levels of testosterone in the body, which reduces this growth stimulus. It has been speculated that men with higher levels of testosterone may have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

Researchers from the United Kingdom recently conducted a large study to evaluate a potential association between testosterone levels and prostate cancer. This study included data from 18 clinical studies that included 3,886 men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and 6,438 men who did not have prostate cancer. Data including levels of testosterone in the blood were compared between the two groups.

Overall, there was no association between levels of testosterone and the rate of prostate cancer. The researchers concluded that there does not appear to be an association with the risk of developing prostate cancer and levels of testosterone circulating in the blood.

Reference: Endogenous Hormones, Prostate Cancer Collaborative Group. Endogenous sex hormones and prostate cancer: a collaborative analysis of 18 prospective studies. Journal of the National Cancer Institute [published early online]. January 29, 2008. DOI: doi:10.1093/jnci/djm323.

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