Androgenetic Alopecia and Prostate Cancer: Findings from an Australian Case-Control Study

The study conducted in Australia from 1994-1997 examined the relationship between androgenetic alopecia (AA) and prostate cancer, focusing on early age at diagnosis and higher grade tumors. The study involved 1446 cases and 1390 controls, all men diagnosed before 70 years of age with histopathology-confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The data suggested an association between prostate cancer and vertex baldness, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.54 (1.19-2.00). No associations were found with frontal baldness alone or when frontal and vertex baldness were present concurrently. The highest ORs were for high-grade disease in men aged 60-69 years: 1.80 (1.02-3.16) for frontal baldness, 2.91 (1.59-5.32) for vertex baldness, and 1.95 (1.10-3.45) for frontal and vertex baldness. The study concluded that the pattern of AA and prostate cancer may share androgen pathways, warranting further investigation.