Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29529997›Full record

SynthesisBMC cancer2018

Possible association between androgenic alopecia and risk of prostate cancer and testicular germ cell tumor: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Weijun Liang, Liuying Song, Zheng Peng, Yan Zou, Shengming Dai

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 40% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Weijun LiangDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No.1 Liushi Road, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 545005, People's Republic of China.
Liuying SongDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No.1 Liushi Road, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 545005, People's Republic of China.
Zheng PengDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No.1 Liushi Road, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 545005, People's Republic of China.
Yan ZouDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No.1 Liushi Road, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 545005, People's Republic of China.
Shengming DaiDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No.1 Liushi Road, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 545005, People's Republic of China. daishm@sina.com.
Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University · CN

Funding

Key Laboratory Construction of Tumor Diseases Prevention in Liu Zhou, Guang Xi 2014G020403
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA number of studies have investigated the association between androgenic alopecia (AGA) and cancer risk, but they have yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore this controversial subject.

methodsA literature database search was performed according to predefined criteria. An odds ratio (OR) or a hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was retained to evaluate the relationship between the incidence of cancer or cancer-specific mortality and categories of AGA. Then a pooled OR or HR was derived.

resultsThe pooled results showed that no specific degree of baldness had an influence on the incidence of cancer or cancer-specific mortality. However, AGA, especially frontal baldness, with the incidence of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) (OR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.58-0.83). A significant increase of risk was observed in relation to high grade prostate cancer (PC) (OR = 1.42; 95% CI 1.02-1.99) and vertex with/without frontal baldness was associated with PC risk.

conclusionsThe study results supported the hypothesis that AGA is negatively associated with TGCT risk and suggested an overlapping pathophysiological mechanism between them, while the viewpoint that AGA can be used as a phenotypic marker for PC risk was poorly supported.

Indexed as

AlopeciaHumansMaleNeoplasms, Germ Cell and EmbryonalProportional Hazards ModelsProstateProstatic NeoplasmsRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsTesticular NeoplasmsAndrogenic alopeciaAssociationMeta-analysisProstate cancerRiskTesticular germ cell tumor

Identifiers

PMID29529997
PMCPMC5848631
OpenAlexW2806045284

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.