Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities
Abstract Serum testosterone levels decrease in the aging male, while the risk for prostate cancer (PCa) increases concomitantly. Higher levels in younger men have been linked with racially driven PCa disparities, with African men disproportionately impacted. In turn, higher levels of serum lipids ha...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92539-y |
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| author | Maphuti Tebogo Lebelo Naledi Mmekwa Melanie Louw Weerachai Jaratlerdsiri Shingai B. A. Mutambirwa Massimo Loda Vanessa M. Hayes M. S. Riana Bornman |
| author_facet | Maphuti Tebogo Lebelo Naledi Mmekwa Melanie Louw Weerachai Jaratlerdsiri Shingai B. A. Mutambirwa Massimo Loda Vanessa M. Hayes M. S. Riana Bornman |
| author_sort | Maphuti Tebogo Lebelo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Serum testosterone levels decrease in the aging male, while the risk for prostate cancer (PCa) increases concomitantly. Higher levels in younger men have been linked with racially driven PCa disparities, with African men disproportionately impacted. In turn, higher levels of serum lipids have been associated with aggressive disease, while racial disparity between serum testosterone, cholesterol and cancer mortality has been suggested. Having previously reported a 2.1-fold increased age-adjusted risk for aggressive PCa in Black South African over Black American men, we determined the serum testosterone and associated lipid levels in 250 Black South African men either with or without clinicopathologically diagnosed disease. Observing no associations with serum lipid levels, Black South Africans presented with testosterone levels between 1.24 (< 60 years) and 1.3-fold (≥ 60 years) greater than Black Americans. Notably, a rapid drop in total-, bioavailable- and free testosterone levels in men 65 years or older was significantly associated with PCa risk (P = 0.0057, 0.009 and 0.005, respectively), while irrespective of age, further associated with advanced disease (P = 0.004, 0.0012 and 0.0036, respectively). These preliminary data provide insights into the potential role of androgens in driving PCa health disparities, with important consequence for tailoring treatment for Black men. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f0b48e32c994da58df0b731015237bd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f0b48e32c994da58df0b731015237bd2025-08-20T02:12:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-92539-yAssociating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparitiesMaphuti Tebogo Lebelo0Naledi Mmekwa1Melanie Louw2Weerachai Jaratlerdsiri3Shingai B. A. Mutambirwa4Massimo Loda5Vanessa M. Hayes6M. S. Riana Bornman7Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of PretoriaSchool of Health Systems & Public Health, University of PretoriaNational Health Laboratory ServicesAncestry and Health Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, University of SydneyDepartment of Urology, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Sefako Makgatho Health Science UniversityDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weil Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell CampusSchool of Health Systems & Public Health, University of PretoriaNational Health Laboratory ServicesAbstract Serum testosterone levels decrease in the aging male, while the risk for prostate cancer (PCa) increases concomitantly. Higher levels in younger men have been linked with racially driven PCa disparities, with African men disproportionately impacted. In turn, higher levels of serum lipids have been associated with aggressive disease, while racial disparity between serum testosterone, cholesterol and cancer mortality has been suggested. Having previously reported a 2.1-fold increased age-adjusted risk for aggressive PCa in Black South African over Black American men, we determined the serum testosterone and associated lipid levels in 250 Black South African men either with or without clinicopathologically diagnosed disease. Observing no associations with serum lipid levels, Black South Africans presented with testosterone levels between 1.24 (< 60 years) and 1.3-fold (≥ 60 years) greater than Black Americans. Notably, a rapid drop in total-, bioavailable- and free testosterone levels in men 65 years or older was significantly associated with PCa risk (P = 0.0057, 0.009 and 0.005, respectively), while irrespective of age, further associated with advanced disease (P = 0.004, 0.0012 and 0.0036, respectively). These preliminary data provide insights into the potential role of androgens in driving PCa health disparities, with important consequence for tailoring treatment for Black men.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92539-yTestosteroneAfrican ancestryProstate cancerCholesterolHealth disparity |
| spellingShingle | Maphuti Tebogo Lebelo Naledi Mmekwa Melanie Louw Weerachai Jaratlerdsiri Shingai B. A. Mutambirwa Massimo Loda Vanessa M. Hayes M. S. Riana Bornman Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities Scientific Reports Testosterone African ancestry Prostate cancer Cholesterol Health disparity |
| title | Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities |
| title_full | Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities |
| title_fullStr | Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities |
| title_short | Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities |
| title_sort | associating serum testosterone levels with african ancestral prostate cancer health disparities |
| topic | Testosterone African ancestry Prostate cancer Cholesterol Health disparity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92539-y |
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