Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. Many cases grow slowly and may never become life-threatening.
Because of this, doctors often recommend a management approach called “active surveillance” for men whose cancer is considered low risk.
Instead of immediately starting surgery or radiation therapy, doctors monitor the cancer closely through regular checkups, blood tests, imaging scans, and sometimes repeat biopsies.
Treatment is only started if the cancer shows signs of becoming more aggressive.
This strategy helps many men avoid or delay treatments that can cause side effects such as urinary problems or sexual dysfunction. However, one of the biggest challenges for doctors is predicting which patients’ cancers will remain slow-growing and which may eventually become more aggressive.
A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests that testosterone levels may provide an important clue.
The findings were published in the Journal of Urology and indicate that men with lower testosterone levels may face a higher risk of their prostate cancer progressing to a more serious stage while they are being monitored through active surveillance.
The research was led by Dr. Justin R. Gregg, an associate professor of urology and health disparities research at MD Anderson. According to Gregg, active surveillance is considered a safe and effective option for many men with early-stage prostate cancer. However, doctors still need better tools to identify which patients might have a higher chance of cancer progression.
Gregg explained that understanding the role of hormones in prostate cancer could help doctors improve monitoring strategies. Hormones such as testosterone play an important role in how prostate cells grow and function. Changes in hormone levels may influence how prostate cancer develops or behaves.
In the study, researchers focused on testosterone levels measured at the time patients first began active surveillance. This starting measurement is often called a baseline level. The scientists wanted to see whether baseline testosterone levels were linked to the chance that prostate cancer might later become more aggressive.
To investigate this question, the research team conducted a retrospective cohort study. This means they examined existing medical records from patients who had already been treated and monitored. The study included more than 900 men who were undergoing active surveillance for prostate cancer.
The researchers analyzed both clinical information and laboratory data from these patients. They looked at testosterone levels along with other factors that are known to influence prostate cancer risk. These included age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, body mass index (BMI), tumor size, and tumor density.
The results showed a clear pattern. Men who had lower testosterone levels at the start of surveillance were more likely to experience cancer progression compared with men whose testosterone levels were higher.
Specifically, patients with testosterone levels of 300 nanograms per deciliter or lower had a significantly higher risk that their cancer would develop into Grade Group 3 or higher disease. Grade Group 3 prostate cancer is considered more aggressive and is more likely to require treatment.
Importantly, this association remained even after the researchers adjusted for other factors that could influence cancer progression. This suggests that low testosterone itself may be an independent signal that doctors should pay attention to when monitoring patients.
However, the researchers emphasized that the findings do not mean low testosterone directly causes prostate cancer to become aggressive. Instead, the results show that there is a relationship between low hormone levels and the likelihood of disease progression.
In other words, testosterone may serve as a marker that helps doctors estimate risk more accurately.
Active surveillance is still considered a safe and appropriate strategy for many men with low-risk prostate cancer. The purpose of this approach is to avoid unnecessary treatment while still keeping a close watch on the disease.
For patients currently undergoing surveillance, the study does not suggest that they should be alarmed if they have low testosterone. Rather, the findings may help doctors tailor monitoring plans more carefully. For example, patients with lower testosterone levels might benefit from more frequent checkups or additional testing.
Researchers also believe these findings could eventually help doctors personalize prostate cancer care. By combining testosterone levels with other clinical information, physicians may be able to better predict which patients are more likely to experience changes in their disease.
However, the researchers stress that more studies are needed before testosterone levels can be used routinely as a clinical tool for predicting cancer progression. Future research will need to confirm these findings in other patient populations and determine exactly how testosterone measurements should be used in practice.
Even so, the study provides an important step toward improving how doctors manage prostate cancer during active surveillance. As scientists continue to learn more about how hormones influence cancer biology, new markers may help doctors make better decisions and give patients more personalized care.
If you care about prostate cancer, please read studies about a natural ally against prostate cancer, and supplements and keto diet can boost immunotherapy for prostate cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to harness the power of anti-cancer foods and supplements, and low-fat diet may help stop cancer growth.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
