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Abstract

Thomas Henry Huxley once claimed that “Science is organized common sense where many a beautiful theory was killed by an ugly fact.” This statement accurately portrays the frustration investigators have experienced in the search to determine the association between testosterone levels and prostate cancer development and aggressiveness. Given the well-established role of antiandrogen therapies in the treatment of prostate adenocarcinoma, it was natural to assume that abnormal testosterone levels would be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer 1 Gann P.H. Hennekens C.H. Ma J. et al. Prospective study of sex hormone levels and risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996; 88: 1118-1126 Crossref PubMed Scopus (655) Google Scholar or of high-grade disease. 2 Schatzl G. Madersbacher S. Thurridl T. et al. High-grade prostate cancer is associated with low serum testosterone levels. Prostate. 2001; 47: 52-58 Crossref PubMed Scopus (272) Google Scholar , 3 Hoffman M.A. DeWolf W.C. Morgentaler A. Is low serum free testosterone a marker for high grade prostate cancer?. J Urol. 2000; 163: 824-827 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (264) Google Scholar However, we, 4 Sher D.J. Mantzoros C. Jacobus S. et al. Absence of a relationship between steroid hormone levels and prostate cancer grade. Urology. 2009; 73: 356-361 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (32) Google Scholar and others, 5 Travis R.C. Key T.J. Allen N.E. et al. Serum androgens and prostate cancer among 643 cases and 643 controls in the European prospective investigation into Cancer and nutrition. Int J Cancer. 2007; 121: 1331-1338 Crossref PubMed Scopus (72) Google Scholar , 6 Fodstad P. Bjoro T. Torlakovic G. Fossa S.D. No association of serum gonadal or pituitary hormones with prognostic parameters in stages T1 to T3 PN0M0 prostate cancer. J Urol. 2002; 168: 1188-1192 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar have presented data arguing otherwise, plunging ugly facts into an otherwise beautiful theory. Editorial CommentUrologyVol. 73Issue 2PreviewPractitioners have relied heavily on the exploitation of the sex steroids to manipulate and control the growth of prostate cancer. It has been well demonstrated that the sex steroids and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis influence prostate development and maintenance by way of roles in prostate cellular growth, differentiation, and, ultimately, apoptosis. Although highly thought to influence prostate carcinogenesis, an association implicating the sex steroids that comprise the hypophyseal, adrenal, and gonadal hormones on the grade and/or behavior of developing prostate cancer remains controversial and has not been clearly established. Full-Text PDF Absence of Relationship Between Steroid Hormone Levels and Prostate Cancer Tumor GradeUrologyVol. 73Issue 2PreviewTo analyze the relationship between plasma testosterone and estradiol levels on prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy Gleason scores in a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Full-Text PDF