From ASCO Post Staff
Posted: 2023/5/3 10:20:00 AM
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In a new study published by Nik-Ahd and colleagues, researchers estimate that about 14 out of every 10,000 transgender women are at risk of developing prostate cancer. jam.
Background
Although transgender women maintain their prostates after gender reassignment surgery, it was previously unknown how much prostate cancer risk remains. Transgender people face discrimination and disparities. Many are increasingly aware that managing their health is complex.
“What we know about prostate cancer so far is based almost exclusively on cisgender men,” explained the study’s lead author. Farnoosh Nik-Ahd, M.D., Resident Physician, Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. “This is an important first step in reshaping how clinicians think about prostate cancer in transgender women,” she stressed.
Research methods and results
In a new study, researchers used 22 years of data from the VA health system to identify prostate cancer in 155 confirmed transgender women, stratified according to whether they used estrogen. Did. Her 116 of the patients were estrogen-naive, and 17 of those patients. A former estrogen user who stopped using it before being diagnosed with prostate cancer, 22 of her were actively using estrogen.
The median age of diagnosis was 61 years, and 88% of patients were identified as Caucasian. However, only 8% are black, suggesting a disparity that may affect this group. Cisgender black men are known to have an increased risk of prostate cancer incidence and mortality.
Additionally, the authors found that prostate cancer may occur in transgender women more frequently than published reports suggest.
Conclusion
Despite the small sample size, it was one of the largest studies of its kind. The findings suggest that transgender women taking estrogen may have a delayed diagnosis. The researchers also noted that the lower incidence of prostate cancer may be the result of several factors. For example, decline in prostate-specific antigen screening, misunderstanding of prostate-specific antigen levels in patients undergoing sex-confirming hormone therapy, stigma, and lack of awareness. Risk of prostate cancer and the effects of estrogen.
“We still have a lot of work to do to decide. [the] Optimal prostate cancer screening for transgender women undergoing estrogen and related treatments,” emphasized the co-lead study authors. Matthew R. Cooperberg, MD, MPH, Professor of Urology, UCSF School of Medicine. “This study has shown that both clinicians and patients, regardless of gender, [individuals] People with a prostate are at risk for prostate cancer,” he concluded.
Disclosure: For full study author disclosures, visit jamanetwork.com.
The content of this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ASCO®.