title: Relationship of early-onset baldness to prostate cancer in African-American men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early-onset baldness has been linked to prostate cancer; however, little is known about this relationship in African-Americans who are at elevated prostate cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 219 African-American controls and 318 African-American prostate cancer cases. We determined age-stratified associations of baldness with prostate cancer occurrence and severity defined by high stage (T3/T4) or high grade (Gleason 7+.) Associations of androgen metabolism genotypes (CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP3A43, AR-CAG, SRD5A2 A49T, and SRD5A2 V89L), family history, alcohol intake, and smoking were examined by baldness status and age group by using multivariable logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baldness was associated with odds of prostate cancer [OR = 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-2.74]. Frontal baldness was associated with high-stage (OR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.10-6.18) and high-grade (OR = 2.20; 95% CI, 1.05-4.61) tumors. For men diagnosed less than the age of 60 years, frontal baldness was associated with high stage (OR = 6.51; 95% CI, 2.11-20.06) and high grade (OR = 4.23; 95% CI, 1.47-12.14). We also observed a suggestion of an interaction among smoking, median age, and any baldness (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed significant associations between early-onset baldness and prostate cancer in African-American men. Interactions with age and smoking were suggested in these associations. Studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms influencing the relationship between baldness and prostate cancer in African-American men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  African-American men present with unique risk factors including baldness patterns that may contribute to prostate cancer disparities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 220 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. czj@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Charnita
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeigler-Johnson
authors.forename: Knashawn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spangler
authors.forename: Bao-Li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Rebbeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000505:Alopecia / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor