Early-Onset Baldness and the Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer: Findings from a Case-Control Study

November 2017 in “ Cancer Causes & Control ”

Nathan Papa, Robert J. MacInnis, Dallas R. English, Damien Bolton, Ian D. Davis, Nathan Lawrentschuk, Jeremy Millar, Gianluca Severi, John L. Hopper, Graham G. Giles

androgenetic alopecia early-onset baldness androgen receptor polymorphisms male pattern baldness

TLDR Men who start balding at age 20 may have a higher chance of getting aggressive prostate cancer.

In the 2017 case-control study involving 1,941 men, researchers found that very early-onset androgenetic alopecia (balding at age 20) was associated with a 51% increased risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer, with an odds ratio of 1.51 (95% CI 1.07–2.12). This risk was particularly pronounced for advanced stage prostate cancer, with an odds ratio of 1.68 (95% CI 1.14-2.47). The study suggested that men with early-onset baldness should be considered for earlier prostate cancer screening and urological follow-up. No significant association was found for balding onset at age 40. The study supports the hypothesis of a shared genetic predisposition for both conditions, potentially related to androgen receptor polymorphisms.

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research A Comparison of the Hormonal Profile of Early Androgenetic Alopecia in Men With the Phenotypic Equivalent of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Women

47 citations , September 2016 in “JAMA Dermatology”

Men with early hair loss have similar hormone levels to women with PCOS, possibly increasing risk of obesity and heart issues.

research Post-Screening Follow-Up of the Finnish Prostate Cancer Screening Trial on Putative Prostate Cancer Risk Factors: Vitamin and Mineral Use, Male Pattern Baldness, Pubertal Development, and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use

29 citations , February 2016 in “Scandinavian journal of urology”

Late puberty may slightly lower prostate cancer risk, baldness is not linked to overall risk but less so with aggressive types, ibuprofen use may increase risk, and vitamins show no effect on risk.

research Male Pattern Baldness in Relation to Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Analysis in the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study

17 citations , January 2016 in “American Journal of Epidemiology”

Men with male pattern baldness have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer.

research Prediction of Male-Pattern Baldness from Genotypes

37 citations , October 2015 in “European Journal of Human Genetics”

Genetic data can predict male-pattern baldness with moderate accuracy, especially for early-onset cases in some European men.

research Evaluation of DNA Variants Associated with Androgenetic Alopecia and Their Potential to Predict Male Pattern Baldness

48 citations , May 2015 in “PLOS ONE”

DNA variants can predict male pattern baldness, with higher risk scores increasing baldness likelihood.

research Relationship Between Male Pattern Baldness and the Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer: An Analysis of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial

28 citations , February 2015 in “Journal of Clinical Oncology”

Men with baldness at the front and top of their head at age 45 may have a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

research Androgenetic Alopecia and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

34 citations , June 2013 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Vertex pattern hair loss linked to higher prostate cancer risk.

research Relationship of Early-Onset Baldness to Prostate Cancer in African-American Men

21 citations , April 2013 in “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention”

Early-onset baldness is linked to a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer in African-American men, especially before age 60.

research Hormonal Profile in Indian Men with Premature Androgenetic Alopecia

25 citations , April 2013 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Premature balding in some men may be linked to altered hormones, but it's not the male equivalent to polycystic ovary syndrome or metabolic syndrome.

research Androgenetic Alopecia at Various Ages and Prostate Cancer Risk in an Equal-Access Multiethnic Case-Control Series of Veterans

12 citations , March 2013 in “Cancer Causes & Control”

Early balding, especially frontal, increases prostate cancer risk; more research needed.

research Age-Dependent Associations Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Prostate Cancer Risk

17 citations , February 2013 in “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention”

Early balding at 40 increases prostate cancer risk.

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101 citations , August 2012 in “Annals of Dermatology”

Men with hair loss experience lower quality of life, worsened by factors like age, severity, and treatment history.

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87 citations , May 2012 in “PLOS Genetics”

Six new genetic regions linked to early hair loss also connect to Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer, possibly leading to new treatments.

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28 citations , March 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Early hair loss may indicate prostate issues.

research Male Pattern Baldness and the Risk of Prostate Cancer

38 citations , August 2011 in “Annals of Oncology”

Men who experienced baldness at age 20 may have double the risk of getting prostate cancer.

research Androgenic Alopecia Is Not Useful as an Indicator of Men at High Risk of Prostate Cancer

28 citations , December 2010 in “European Journal of Cancer”

Baldness at age 40 is not linked to a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

research Efficacy and Safety of Finasteride Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia

152 citations , October 2010 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Finasteride helps hair growth but may cause sexual side effects.

research Male Pattern Baldness and Prostate Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Case-Control Study

29 citations , April 2010 in “Cancer epidemiology”

Men who start losing hair at age 30 may have a lower risk of prostate cancer.

research Male-Pattern Baldness Susceptibility Locus at 20p11

111 citations , October 2008 in “Nature Genetics”

Researchers found a new gene area linked to male-pattern baldness, which, along with another gene, significantly increases the risk of hair loss in men.