Risk factors for prostate cancer

Patel, Amit R
Klein, Eric A

AR Patel is a Urology Resident at the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, and EA Klein is Vice Chair at the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute and Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Correspondence

^⋆Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA

Received 1 November 2008 Accepted 10 December 2008

Nature Clinical Practice Urology 6(2):p 87-95, February 2009.

SUMMARY

The incidence of prostate cancer continues to increase in the US. Compared with other common cancers such as those of the breast and lung, the causes of prostate cancer remain poorly understood. Research endeavors continue to identify predictors of risk for prostate cancer, of which familial and genetic factors are among the strongest. Known risk factors can show significant heterogeneity in their association with prostate cancer development. However, the identification and further characterization of risk modifiers might provide insight into treatment and prevention of prostate cancer.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Pub Med and MEDLINE were searched to identify studies of prostate cancer risk factors. The last search was performed on 1 October 2008. No language restrictions were applied. Search terms included “prostate cancer”, “prostate cancer risk factors”, and “risk factors prostate cancer”. Articles were obtained on the basis of these searches. Reference lists from selected articles were checked for additional relevant material.

KEY POINTS

Prostate cancer remains the most common noncutaneous cancer in men worldwide
Risk factors for prostate cancer are numerous and heterogeneous; they include genetic, inflammatory and infectious, androgen-related, dietary, age-related, and ethnic factors that contribute to prostate cancer susceptibility
Numerous research endeavors are underway to identify and characterize factors that modify the risk of prostate cancer
Modifiable risk factors, once discovered, can be targeted in prostate cancer prevention strategies