Obese men at high risk of prostate cancer

Data on obesity and prostate cancer conflict were examined. Precancerous lesions were more common in benign biopsies from obese men. After benign biopsy, obese men have increased risk of future prostate cancer.

The investigation

Obese men were more likely to have precancerous lesions detected in benign prostate biopsies compared with nonobese men. And they were at increased risk of later developing prostate cancer, according to data published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. A journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. “Our study focuses on a large group of men who have had a benign prostate biopsy. But who are still at high risk for prostate cancer,” said Andrew Rundle, Dr.PH. Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York, NY. “Studies in the past have sought to determine whether there are subpopulations of men diagnosed with benign conditions who may be at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. This is one of the first studies to evaluate the association between obesity and precancerous abnormalities.” Rundle and colleagues investigated the association between obesity and future prostate cancer incidence in a cohort of 6,692 men at Henry Ford Health System. They were followed for 14 years after prostate resection with benign findings or transurethral biopsy. The research was part of a larger study of tissue biomarkers of environmentally induced prostate cancer. Funded through a research grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health to Benjamin Rybicki, Ph.D. A research scientist at Henry Ford Health System and senior co-author of the study. The researchers conducted a case-control study among 494 of these patients and 494 matched controls. Precancerous alterations were found in 11 percent of the patients’ benign samples. These abnormalities were significantly associated with obesity at the time of the procedure, according to Rundle. Various factors were taken into account. Family history of prostate cancer, levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at the initial procedure, and the number of PSA tests and digital rectal examinations during follow-up, the researchers found that obesity at the time of the initial procedure was associated with a 57 percent increase in the incidence of prostate cancer during follow-up. This association was only apparent for tumors occurring early in the follow-up period. “We don’t know absolutely what biology is true,” Rundle said. “In some respects, this reflects the association between body size and larger prostate size. Which is thought to reduce the sensitivity of needle biopsy. It is possible that tumors missed by initial biopsy grew and were detected in a follow-up biopsy.” The observed association between body size and prostate cancer risk is greater than that observed in previous studies. The official attributed the differences to cohort variables. Which is made up of men at high risk of prostate cancer. Additionally, since these high-risk men were members of the Henry Ford Medical System, they underwent increased medical surveillance. This included repeated biopsies and regular PSA tests. “We need some guidance on when and for whom a complete follow-up is required,” Rundle said. “Obesity should be considered a factor for more intensive follow-up after a benign prostate biopsy.”