Testosterone as a biomarker of colorectal cancer in the South Indian population

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly life-threatening disease associated with a significant mortality rate. It has been proposed that testosterone levels may play a role in predisposing individuals to such devastating conditions. Testosterone primarily governs the maturation of the male reproductive system while also exerting physiological effects in both genders. In the present study, we investigated testosterone levels in CRC patients among the South Indian population. Blood samples were collected in the hospitals in Tamil Nadu, South India, and a cohort of healthy controls was selected for comparative analysis. A total of 130 subjects participated in the study, consisting of 65 CRC patients and an equal number of healthy controls. Approximately 7 mL of blood was collected from each subject for radioimmunoassay. The results of radioimmunoassay on the blood samples were analyzed using SPSS to assess differences between discrete and continuous data variables. Chi-square and t-tests were conducted for statistical evaluation. CRC patients exhibited significantly (P < 0.0001) reduced mean testosterone levels (06.68 ± 2.15 nmol/L) compared to controls (22.54 ± 8.85 nmol/L). Further stratification by smoking status revealed that non-smoker CRC patients had lower testosterone levels (06.81 ± 2.21 nmol/L) than non-smoking controls (10.15 ± 2.48 nmol/L), with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001). Adjusting for alcohol consumption, CRC patients displayed decreased mean testosterone levels (06.31 ± 2.30 nmol/L) compared to controls (07.96 ± 2.45 nmol/L), and this difference was found to be significant (P < 0.022). These findings support the notion that reduced testosterone levels serve as a critical risk biomarker in the pathogenesis of CRC.