Androgenetic Alopecia and Risks of Overall and Aggressive Prostate Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    November 2025 in “ Cancers ”
    David G. Hanelin, S S Amar, Ilir Agalliu
    Studysummary This study conducted a meta-analysis and found that men with both frontal and vertex male pattern baldness have a slightly increased risk of developing prostate cancer, though most data was from Caucasian populations and effect modification by genetic variations was not assessed.
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    Research cited in this study 26

    1. Uncovering the Genetic Architecture and Evolutionary Roots of Androgenetic Alopecia in African Men Human Genetics and Genomics Advances · 2025
    2. Factors Associated With Early-Onset Androgenetic Alopecia: A Scoping Review PLOS ONE · 2024
    3. The Biology and Genomics of Human Hair Follicles: A Focus on Androgenetic Alopecia International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2024
    4. Hormonal Regulation in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: Sex Hormones and Beyond - Evidence from Recent Genetic Studies Experimental Dermatology · 2020
    5. Male Pattern Baldness and Incidence of Prostate Cancer Medicine · 2018
    6. GWAS for Male-Pattern Baldness Identifies 71 Susceptibility Loci Explaining 38% of the Risk Nature Communications · 2017
    7. Intracrine Androgen Biosynthesis, Metabolism, and Action Revisited Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology · 2017
    8. Meta-Analysis Identifies Novel Risk Loci and Yields Systematic Insights into the Biology of Male-Pattern Baldness Nature communications · 2017
    9. The Association of Male Pattern Baldness and Risk of Cancer and High-Grade Disease Among Men Presenting for Prostate Biopsy Canadian Urological Association journal · 2016
    10. 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 Scandinavian journal of urology · 2016
    11. Male Pattern Baldness in Relation to Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Analysis in the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study American Journal of Epidemiology · 2016
    12. Relationship Between Male Pattern Baldness and the Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer: An Analysis of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial Journal of Clinical Oncology · 2014
    13. Androgenetic Alopecia and Polymorphism of the Androgen Receptor Gene (SNP rs6152) in Patients with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia or Prostate Cancer Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2014
    14. Relationship of Early-Onset Baldness to Prostate Cancer in African-American Men Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention · 2013
    15. Androgenetic Alopecia and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2013
    16. Age-Dependent Associations Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Prostate Cancer Risk Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention · 2012
    17. Characteristics of Androgenetic Alopecia in Asian Populations Annals of Dermatology · 2012
    18. Androgen Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Risk for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Meta-Analysis Clinical and Experimental Dermatology · 2011
    19. Male Pattern Baldness and the Risk of Prostate Cancer Annals of Oncology · 2011
    20. Molecular Basis of Androgenetic Alopecia: From Androgen to Paracrine Mediators Through Dermal Papilla Journal of Dermatological Science · 2010
    21. Androgenic Alopecia Is Not Useful as an Indicator of Men at High Risk of Prostate Cancer European Journal of Cancer · 2010
    22. Male Pattern Baldness and Prostate Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Case-Control Study Cancer epidemiology · 2010
    23. Baldness, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, Prostate Cancer, and Androgen Levels The Aging Male · 2008
    24. Androgens and Alopecia Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology · 2002
    25. Androgenetic Alopecia: Pathogenesis and Potential for Therapy Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine · 2002
    26. Polymorphism of the Androgen Receptor Gene Is Associated with Male Pattern Baldness Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2001