A new study highlights a surprising protective role of androgens in brain cancer. In models of glioblastoma, reducing androgen levels accelerated tumor growth by disrupting immune defenses.
Researchers found that androgen loss activates the HPA axis, increasing stress hormones and weakening T-cell function. This creates an immunosuppressive environment that allows tumors to grow faster.
Interestingly, testosterone treatment was linked to improved survival in male patients.
These findings challenge previous assumptions about hormones in cancer and suggest that brain tumors follow unique, organ-specific immune pathways, opening doors for targeted therapies.
Read more at Nature
