Thyroid disorders and their association with prostate cancer: a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48193/t1d7b882Keywords:
thyroid hormones, neoplasm prostatic, prostate cancer, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidismAbstract
The prostate gland comprises epithelial cells with androgen receptors that regulate its cell cycle. Endocrine changes associated with aging become one of the main problems for the development of prostatic disorders such as prostate cancer. Thyroid hormones are a set of hormones responsible for regulating basal and energy metabolism, influencing the cell cycle's regulation, and helping cell proliferation and differentiation. Thyroid disorders, each characterized by a particular biochemical profile, are common in the population, and the evidence accumulated to date suggests them as a risk factor for the development of breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. Regarding prostate cancer, in vitro and clinical studies support that hyperthyroidism, characterized by increased serum concentrations of thyroid hormones and decreased TSH, is considered a risk factor for the development of prostate cancer, increasing the probability of cell immortalization by stimulating gene transcription and uncontrolled proliferation. Therefore, thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism should be considered a risk factor for prostate cancer. In younger populations it appears that hypothyroidism with increased TSH concentrations affects prostate cells, increasing the risk of cancer in this population. However, there are fewer studies to support this idea.
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