Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38602128›Full record

ArticleAndrology2025

Excessive androgen exposure and risk of malignancies: A cohort study.

Ida M Heerfordt, Josefine Windfeld-Mathiasen, Kim Peder Dalhoff, Jon Trærup Andersen, Henrik Horwitz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Andrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Ida M HeerfordtDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-6130-875X
Josefine Windfeld-MathiasenDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kim Peder DalhoffDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jon Trærup AndersenDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Henrik HorwitzDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Funding

Anti-Doping Denmark
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA link between androgen use and the risk of cancers, especially prostate and breast cancer, has been suggested. The knowledge about a possible association is limited.

objectiveThe study aimed to investigate cancer incidence rates, particularly those related to prostate and breast cancer, in male androgen users and compare them to a control group.

methodsWe included male androgen users identified through a nationwide anti-doping testing program in Danish fitness centers from 2006 to 2018. We paired each case with 50 male controls of the same age, selected randomly. The cohort was followed from baseline and until 2023. The outcome was the incidence of prostate cancer, breast cancer, or any cancer excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.

resultsThe study included 1,189 androgen users and 59,450 controls, with a mean age of 27 years at enrolment. During the follow-up period with a mean length of 11 years, 13 androgen users, and 612 controls were diagnosed with cancer. This resulted in an incidence rate ratio of 1.05 (95% CI: 0.55-1.81). None of the androgen users were diagnosed with prostate or breast cancer. DISCUSSION AND

conclusionMale androgen users did not face an increased short-term risk of cancer, neither overall nor related to prostate or breast cancer. Our study indicates that the absolute risk of malignancies in androgen users is comparable to that in the background population. However, we cannot exclude androgens as a cancer risk factor due to the limited sample size, relatively short follow-up period, and subject age.

Indexed as

AndrogensBreast NeoplasmsProstatic NeoplasmsAdultCase-Control StudiesCohort StudiesDenmarkDoping in SportsHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsYoung AdultAndrogensanabolic androgenic steroidsbodybuildingcancer incidencecohort studytestosterone

Identifiers

PMID38602128
PMCPMC11815540

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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.