Prostate cancer: a serious disease suitable for prevention

To Drink or Not to Drink? Investigating Alcohol's Impact on Prostate Cancer Risk

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant global health issue. The relationship between alcohol consumption and PCa risk has been the subject of extensive research, yet findings remain inconsistent. This review aims to clarify the association between alcohol intake and PCa risk, its aggressiveness, and the potential metabolic pathways involved in PCa onset.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed and MEDLINE, focusing on epidemiological studies, meta-analyses, cohort studies, and case-control studies. Studies evaluating alcohol consumption, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and PCa risk were included. The review also explored the roles of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in alcohol metabolism.

RESULTS

The analysis reveals a complex relationship between alcohol consumption and PCa. Heavy alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of PCa, particularly more aggressive forms, and higher mortality rates. However, studies also show weak or no association between moderate alcohol consumption and PCa. The variability in findings may be attributed to differences in alcohol types, regional factors, and study methodologies.

CONCLUSIONS

The link between alcohol consumption and PCa risk is multifaceted. While heavy drinking appears to increase the risk of aggressive PCa, the overall relationship remains unclear. Further research is needed to better understand these associations and inform public health recommendations and cancer prevention strategies.

Five-alpha reductase inhibitors and risk of prostate cancer among men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A historical cohort study using primary care data

Background: Five-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) are used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). 5ARIs prevent the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which is important in prostate development. It has been suggested that 5ARIs can be used a chemopreventative agent for prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of prostate cancer associated with 5ARI use among men with BPH. Methods: Using Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) from 1992 to 2011 in UK, prostate cancer risk was retrospectively compared in men with a new diagnosis of BPH, with no history of prostate cancer who were treated with 5ARIs, to men treated with alpha blockers (ABs) and those given no pharmacological treatment. Incidence rate of prostate cancer was calculated by treatment group; the association between BPH treatment group and prostate cancer was estimated by a multivariate Cox model. Results: 77,494 men with newly diagnosed BPH were included. The crude incidence rate of prostate cancer was 892.4 cases per 100,000 person-years amongst those treated with 5ARIs, compared with 1209.0 and 1542.9 in those treated with ABs and untreated individuals, respectively. The HR adjusted for potential confounders was 0.79 (0.72-0.86) for 5ARI vs ABs and 0.72 (0.66-0.79) for 5ARI vs untreated. After excluding the first year after BPH diagnosis, adjusted HRs attenuated to 0.87 (0.79-0.97) for 5ARI vs ABs and 0.97 (0.87-1.08) for 5ARI vs untreated. Conclusion: Among men diagnosed with BPH, we found evidence of lower risks of subsequent prostate cancer in those treated with 5ARIs, but this appeared to be driven by cases diagnosed within a year of BPH, possibly reflecting prevalent prostate cancers that were initially misdiagnosed. After excluding the first year after BPH diagnosis, there was little evidence of a reduced prostate cancer risk in those taking 5ARIs.

5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors and Prostate Cancer Mortality among Men with Regular Access to Screening and Health Care

BACKGROUND

How 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) use influences prostate cancer mortality is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether men taking 5-ARIs with regular health care access have increased prostate cancer mortality.

METHODS

We undertook two analyses in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study examining 5-ARI use, determined by biennial questionnaires, and prostate cancer. A cohort analysis followed 38,037 cancer-free men for prostate cancer incidence from 1996 through January 2017 and mortality through January 2019. A case-only analysis followed 4,383 men with localized/locally advanced prostate cancer for mortality over a similar period. HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for prostate cancer incidence and mortality.

RESULTS

Men using 5-ARIs underwent more PSA testing, prostate exams and biopsies. Over 20 years of follow-up, 509 men developed lethal disease (metastases or prostate cancer death). Among men initially free from prostate cancer, 5-ARI use was not associated with developing lethal disease [HR, 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71-1.46], but was associated with reduced rates of overall and localized disease (HR, 0.71; 0.60-0.83). Among men diagnosed with prostate cancer, there was no association between 5-ARI use and cancer-specific (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.48-1.27) or overall survival (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.72-1.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Men using 5-ARIs were less likely to be diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer, without increasing long-term risk of lethal prostate cancer or cancer-specific death after diagnosis.

IMPACT

Our results provide evidence that 5-ARI use is safe with respect to prostate cancer mortality in the context of regular health care access. See related commentary by Hamilton, p. 1259.

Quick identification of prostate cancer by wavelet transform-based photoacoustic power spectrum analysis

Pathology is currently the gold standard for grading prostate cancer (PCa). However, pathology takes considerable time to provide a final result and is significantly dependent on subjective judgment. In this study, wavelet transform-based photoacoustic power spectrum analysis (WT-PASA) was used for grading PCa with different Gleason scores (GSs). The tumor region was accurately identified via wavelet transform time-frequency analysis. Then, a linear fitting was conducted on the photoacoustic power spectrum curve of the tumor region to obtain the quantified spectral parameter slope. The results showed that high GSs have small glandular cavity structures and higher heterogeneity, and consequently, the slopes at both 1210 nm and 1310 nm were high (p < 0.01). The classification accuracy of the PA time frequency spectrum (PA-TFS) of tumor region using ResNet-18 was 89% at 1210 nm and 92.7% at 1310 nm. Further, the testing time was less than 7 mins. The results demonstrated that identification of PCa can be rapidly and objectively realized using WT-PASA.

Association of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor and prostate cancer incidence and mortality: a meta-analysis

Background

5-Alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) have been suggested as potential chemopreventive agents for prostate cancer (PCa). This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of 5-ARIs on the incidence and mortality of PCa.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched comprehensively from database inception to October 2019. The clinical outcomes included the incidence of overall PCa, high-grade (Gleason8-10) PCa, metastatic PCa, overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Results

Overall, 23 studies were included in the present study, representing 11 cohort studies, 5 case-control studies, and 8 randomized controlled trials. The use of 5-ARIs was associated with a decreased risk of overall PCa [relative risk (RR) =0.77; 95% CI: 0.67–0.88; P<0.001] and increased risk of Gleason 8–10 PCa (RR=1.19; 95% CI: 1.01–1.40; P=0.036). In terms of metastatic PCa, there were no significant between-group differences (RR=1.23; 95% CI: 0.69–2.18; P=0.487). Furthermore, we found that prediagnostic 5-ARI usage was not associated with an increased risk of overall or prostate cancer mortality, with HRs of 1.00 (95% CI: 0.92–1.08; P=0.938) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.80–1.21; P=0.881), respectively.

Conclusions

In conclusion, while male 5-ARI users were associated with a decreased risk of overall prostate cancer and increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer (Gleason 8–10), they were not associated with an increased risk of overall or prostate cancer mortality. 5-ARIs should be recommended carefully for use as chemopreventive agents.

The function of long noncoding RNA HOTAIRM1 in the progression of prostate cancer cells

Emerging evidence is indicating the importance of hundreds of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the occurrence and progression of different malignancies such as prostate cancer (PCa). This study investigated the possible role of HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA myeloid-specific 1 (HOTAIRM1) in the progression of tumorigenesis of PC3 as PCa cell line. RT-qPCR was used to measure HOTAIRM1 expression levels in PC3 and RWPE-1 cell lines. To detect the effect of HOTAIRM1 in the progression of PCa, HOTAIRM1 was silenced on PC3 cells with specific siRNA and transfected into cells using a liposomal approach. Using MTT assay, the effects of si-HOTAIRM1 on cell viability and proliferation were evaluated. Cell apoptosis was analysed using flow cytometry and Wnt pathway-related proteins by Western blot. HOTAIRM1 was overexpressed in PC3 cells compared with RWPE-1 cells. Reducing HOTAIRM1 alleviated cell proliferation and increased apoptosis of PC3 cells so that the expression of pro-apoptotic agents such as Bad and Bax was significantly increased, while that of Bid and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic) was decreased. Furthermore, HOTAIRM1 silencing suppressed the Wnt pathway. Overall, HOTAIRM1 silencing in PC3 cells inhibited the proliferative ability and promoted the apoptosis of PCa cells by suppressing the Wnt pathway, thereby inhibiting the progression of PCa.

Is Age an Independent Factor for Prostate Cancer? A Paired Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent malignant neoplasia among men worldwide. Several prognostic factors, including Gleason's score, the measurement of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the evaluation of the percentage of fragments affected by cancer on prostate biopsy, have already been established. Age alone, however, has yet to be studied as a prognostic factor independently from other known factors. The aim of the present study was to compare the characteristics and the evolution of prostate cancer in different age groups using a paired analysis for patients with equivalent known prognostic factors. In addition, we aimed to determine the true impact of age on the prognosis of prostate cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The data from 2,283 patients subjected to radical retropubic prostatectomy between 1998 and 2009 were reviewed. The patients were divided into three age groups: < 55 years old, between 56 and 65 and > 65 years old. Each patient was matched to another patient in the other groups who had the same PSA range (< 4.0, between 4.0 and 10.0 and > 10), Gleason score on the surgical specimen and prognostic range of positive fragments in the prostate biopsy (< 33%, between 34 and 50% and > 50%). After pairing, each group consisted of 215 patients, who were compared using the biochemical recurrence of the disease (PSA > 0.2), the interval for biochemical relapse, extra-capsular invasion and invasion of the seminal vesicles or the lymph nodes. RESULTS. No significant difference was observed between the groups regarding the frequency of relapses, interval of relapse, extra-capsular invasion and invasion of the seminal vesicles or lymph nodes.

DISCUSSION

None of the studied factors were affected by the age of the patients. Therefore, patients of different ages had tumors with similar characteristics and behaviors.

CONCLUSION

When assessed separately, without the effects of the main prognostic factors, age does not appear to be an independent prognostic factor for prostate cancer.

Enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase in cancer

Enoyl-CoA hydratase (Ech) catalyzes the second step in the physiologically important beta-oxidation pathway of fatty acid metabolism. The enzyme was reported to be associated with the progression, metastasis and drug resistance of cancers. It might function as a tumor promoter or a tumor suppressor for certain cancers depending on the particular type or stage of tumor cells/tissues. In this review, Ech's association with malignant tumors as well as its potential mechanisms is discussed and summarized. The enzyme might be useful in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis determination of certain tumors.

Induction of apoptosis by cyclobutanones and derived polycyclic γ-lactones: a preliminary analysis of antiproliferative activity

A series of cyclobutanones (7a–f) were synthesized by irradiation of β-ionone derived chalcones (4a–f) in aqueous methanol and further converted to polycyclic γ-lactones (8a–f) by Baeyer–Villiger oxidation.

5α-Reductase inhibitors and risk of high-grade or lethal prostate cancer

IMPORTANCE

5α-Reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) are widely used for benign prostatic hyperplasia despite controversy regarding potential risk of high-grade prostate cancer with use. Furthermore, the effect of 5ARIs on progression and prostate cancer death remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between 5ARI use and development of high-grade or lethal prostate cancer.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Prospective observational study of 38,058 men followed up for prostate cancer diagnosis and outcomes between 1996 and 2010 in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

EXPOSURES

Use of 5ARIs between 1996 and 2010.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate risk of prostate cancer diagnosis or development of lethal disease with 5ARI use, adjusting for possible confounders including prostate specific antigen testing.

RESULTS

During 448,803 person-years of follow-up, we ascertained 3681 incident prostate cancer cases. Of these, 289 were lethal (metastatic or fatal), 456 were high grade (Gleason sum [GS] 8-10), 1238 were GS 7, and 1600 were low grade (GS 2-6). A total of 2878 (7.6%) men reported use of 5ARIs between 1996 and 2010. After adjusting for confounders, men who reported ever using 5ARIs over the study period had a reduced risk of overall prostate cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.91). 5ARI users had a reduced risk of GS 7 (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.49-0.91) and low-grade (GS 2-6) prostate cancer (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.95). 5ARI use was not associated with risk of high-grade (GS 8-10) prostate cancer (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.64-1.46) or lethal disease (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.58-1.69). Increased duration of use was associated with significantly lower risk of overall prostate cancer (HR for 1 year of additional use, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99), localized (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90-1.00), and low-grade disease (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85-0.99). There was no association for lethal, high-grade, or grade 7 disease.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

While 5ARI use was not associated with developing high-grade or lethal prostate cancer, it was associated with a reduction in low-grade, GS 7, and overall prostate cancer. Because the number of patients with high-grade or lethal prostate cancer in our cohort was limited, we cannot rule out potential risk of harm with 5ARI use.

Downregulation of glutathione peroxidase 3 is associated with lymph node metastasis and prognosis in cervical cancer

Glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) is a member of the glutathione peroxidase family of selenoproteins and is one of the key defensive enzymes against oxidative damages to host cells. Downregulation of GPX3 due to its promoter hypermethylation has been documented in several different types of cancer, indicating that GPX3 functions as a possible tumor suppressor. In the present study, we showed that GPX3 is also significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues compared to normal cervical tissues by qRT-PCR analyses and immunohistostainings. GPX3 expression was significantly related to lymph node metastasis and prognosis in cervical cancer patients. Treatment of cervical cancer cells with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored the expression of GPX3 and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) confirmed the CpG methylation of the GPX3 gene. Our results indicate that promoter methylation is one of the major causes of GPX3 downregulation in cervical cancer and GPX3 could serve as a predictive biomarker for lymph node metastasis and prognosis of cervical cancer.

Ginkgetin induces apoptosis via activation of caspase and inhibition of survival genes in PC-3 prostate cancer cells

Ginkgetin is a natural biflavonoid isolated from leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. Though it was known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-influenza virus, anti-fungal activity, osteoblast differentiation stimulating activity and neuro-protective effects, the underlying antitumor mechanism of ginkgetin still remains unclear. Thus, in the present study, anti-cancer mechanism of ginkgetin was elucidated in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Ginkgetin suppressed the viability of PC-3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and also significantly increased the sub-G1 DNA contents of cell cycle in PC-3 cells. Ginkgetin activated caspase-3 and attenuated the expression of survival genes such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, survivin and Cyclin D1 at protein and mRNA levels. Consistently, pan-caspase inhibitor Z-DEVD-fmk blocked sub G1 accumulation and cleavages of PRAP and caspase 3 induced by ginkgetin in PC-3 cells. Overall, these findings suggest that ginkgetin induces apoptosis in PC-3 cells via activation of caspase 3 and inhibition of survival genes as a potent chemotherapeutic agent for prostate cancer treatment.

Molecular pathways involved in prostate carcinogenesis: insights from public microarray datasets

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is currently the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in men and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in industrialized countries. Worldwide, an increase in prostate cancer incidence is expected due to an increased life-expectancy, aging of the population and improved diagnosis. Although the specific underlying mechanisms of prostate carcinogenesis remain unknown, prostate cancer is thought to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors altering key cellular processes. To elucidate these complex interactions and to contribute to the understanding of prostate cancer progression and metastasis, analysis of large scale gene expression studies using bioinformatics approaches is used to decipher regulation of core processes.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

In this study, a standardized quality control procedure and statistical analysis (http://www.arrayanalysis.org/) were applied to multiple prostate cancer datasets retrieved from the ArrayExpress data repository and pathway analysis using PathVisio (http://www.pathvisio.org/) was performed. The results led to the identification of three core biological processes that are strongly affected during prostate carcinogenesis: cholesterol biosynthesis, the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and an increased metabolic activity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study illustrates how a standardized bioinformatics evaluation of existing microarray data and subsequent pathway analysis can quickly and cost-effectively provide essential information about important molecular pathways and cellular processes involved in prostate cancer development and disease progression. The presented results may assist in biomarker profiling and the development of novel treatment approaches.

Dentatin Induces Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells via Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Survivin Downregulation, Caspase-9, -3/7 Activation, and NF-κB Inhibition

This study was set to investigate antiproliferative potential of dentatin (a natural coumarin isolated from Clausena excavata Burm. F) against prostate cancer and to delineate the underlying mechanism of action. Treatment with dentatin dose-dependently inhibited cell growth of PC-3 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines, whereas it showed less cytotoxic effects on normal prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE-1). The inhibitory effect of dentatin on prostate cancer cell growth was due to induction of apoptosis as evidenced by Annexin V staining and cell shrinkage. We found that dentatin-mediated accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and downregulated expression levels of antiapoptotic molecules (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Survivin), leading to disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell membrane permeability, and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol. These effects were associated with induction of caspase-9, -3/7 activities, and subsequent DNA fragmentation. In addition, we found that dentatin inhibited TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of p65, suggesting dentatin as a potential NF-κB inhibitor. Thus, we suggest that dentatin may have therapeutic value in prostate cancer treatment worthy of further development.

The pro-apoptotic effect of quercetin in cancer cell lines requires ERβ-dependent signals

Quercetin has potentially beneficial effects on disease prevention, including cancer. An intriguing issue regarding the mechanisms of action of quercetin is the ability of this drug to modulate estrogen receptor (ER) activities. In a previous study, we demonstrated that quercetin elicited apoptosis through an ERα-dependent mechanism. However, the contribution of ERβ in quercetin-induced apoptosis remains elusive. Here, we report that quercetin, at nutritionally relevant concentrations, mimicked the 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced apoptotic effect in both ERβ1-transfected HeLa and in ERβ1-containing DLD-1 colon cancer cell lines by inducing the activation of p38. p38 activation is responsible for pro-apoptotic activation of caspase-3 and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Notably, no inactivation or downregulation of the survival kinases (i.e., AKT and ERK1/2) or the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was observed after quercetin stimulation. On the contrary, quercetin acted similarly to E2 by increasing the levels of the oncosuppressor protein PTEN and by impeding ERβ-dependent cyclin D1 promoter activity, which subsequently resulted in the transcription of the estrogen-responsive element remaining unchanged. As a whole, these data indicate that quercetin mimics the E2 effects in the presence of ERβ1, thus maintaining its anti-carcinogenic potential. In addition, the quercetin pro-apoptotic action in the presence of ERα may render it as a dual-sided protective agent against E2-related cancer in the reduction of tumour growth in organs that express ERα and/or ERβ.

Androgen regulation of 5α-reductase isoenzymes in prostate cancer: implications for prostate cancer prevention

The enzyme 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), performs key functions in the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The three isoenzymes of 5α-reductase identified to date are encoded by different genes: SRD5A1, SRD5A2, and SRD5A3. In this study, we investigated mechanisms underlying androgen regulation of 5α-reductase isoenzyme expression in human prostate cells. We found that androgen regulates the mRNA level of 5α-reductase isoenzymes in a cell type-specific manner, that such regulation occurs at the transcriptional level, and that AR is necessary for this regulation. In addition, our results suggest that AR is recruited to a negative androgen response element (nARE) on the promoter of SRD5A3 in vivo and directly binds to the nARE in vitro. The different expression levels of 5α-reductase isoenzymes may confer response or resistance to 5α-reductase inhibitors and thus may have importance in prostate cancer prevention.

Lycopene for the prevention of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is a common cause of death in developed countries, yet the benefits of screening for prostate cancer still remain controversial. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test result greater than 4 ng/mL (nanograms/millilitre) has commonly been used as the cut-off level for seeking further tests to diagnose the presence (or absence) of prostate cancer. An increase in PSA levels may not necessarily be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, as PSA levels may also be increased in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. Despite the uncertainty of the net benefit of early detection and treatment, safe and effective methods to prevent prostate cancer are of value. Consumers, seeking greater involvement in their healthcare, are increasingly turning to lifestyle modification and complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) to maintain their health and prevent disease. Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family, which is found abundantly in tomatoes, tomato-based products, strawberries, and watermelon. It has been hypothesised that lycopene is a strong antioxidant, which may lower the risk of cancer (including prostate cancer) in people who have diets rich in lycopene.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether lycopene reduces the incidence of prostate cancer and prostate cancer-specific mortality. Secondary objectives include changes in PSA levels, prostate symptoms and the nature of adverse events associated with lycopene use.

SEARCH METHODS

Electronic searches were conducted across MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases. No language or other limitations were imposed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the use of lycopene for the prevention of prostate cancer were eligible for inclusion in this review.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

A search of electronic databases, performed in August 2011, identified 64 citations. All articles were selected for full-text review. From these citations, three studies were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. Handsearching did not provide any additional studies.

MAIN RESULTS

Three RCTs, with a total of 154 participants were included in this review. None of the studies reported data on prostate cancer mortality. All of the included studies differed with respect to design, participants included and allocation of lycopene. This clinical heterogeneity limits the value on the pooled estimated of the meta-analyses. The methodological quality of two of the three included studies was assessed as posing a 'high' risk of bias. Meta-analysis indicated no statistical difference in PSA levels between men randomised to receive lycopene and the comparison group (MD (mean difference) -0.34, 95% CI (confidence interval) -2.01, 1.32). Only one study reported incidence of prostate cancer (10% in the lycopene group versus 30% in control group). The level of lycopene was also not statistically different in men randomised to receive lycopene and the comparison group (MD 0.39 µg/mL (micrograms/millilitre), 95% CI -0.19, 0.98). No other meta-analyses were possible since other outcomes assessed only had one study contributing data.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Given that only three RCTs were included in this systematic review, and the high risk of bias in two of the three studies, there is insufficient evidence to either support, or refute, the use of lycopene for the prevention of prostate cancer. Similarly, there is no robust evidence from RCTs to identify the impact of lycopene consumption upon the incidence of prostate cancer, prostate symptoms, PSA levels or adverse events.

Type I Collagen Synthesis Marker Procollagen I N-Terminal Peptide (PINP) in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Intermittent Androgen Suppression

Intermittent androgen suppression (IAS) therapy for prostate cancer patients attempts to maintain the hormone dependence of the tumor cells by cycles alternating between androgen suppression (AS) and treatment cessation till a certain prostate-specific antigen (PSA) threshold is reached. Side effects are expected to be reduced, compared to standard continuous androgen suppression (CAS) therapy. The present study examined the effect of IAS on bone metabolism by determinations of serum procollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP), a biochemical marker of collagen synthesis. A total of 105 treatment cycles of 58 patients with prostate cancer stages ≥pT2 was studied assessing testosterone, PSA and PINP levels at monthly intervals. During phases of AS lasting for up to nine months PSA levels were reversibly reduced, indicating apoptotic regression of the prostatic tumors. Within the first cycle PINP increased at the end of the AS period and peaked in the treatment cessation phase. During the following two cycles a similar pattern was observed for PINP, except a break in collagen synthesis as indicated by low PINP levels in the first months off treatment. Therefore, measurements of the serum PINP concentration indicated increased bone matrix synthesis in response to >6 months of AS, which uninterruptedly continued into the first treatment cessation phase, with a break into each of the following two pauses. In summary, synthesis of bone matrix collagen increases while degradation decreases during off-treatment phases in patients undergoing IAS. Although a direct relationship between bone matrix turnover and risk of fractures is difficult to establish, IAS for treatment of biochemical progression of prostate tumors is expected to reduce osteoporosis in elderly men often at high risk for bone fractures representing a highly suitable patient population for this kind of therapy.

Examining the influence of social ecological factors on prostate cancer screening in urban African-American men

African-American men experience a disparate burden of prostate cancer (PC). Little is known about how social factors influence PC screening in this population.

METHODS

African-American men over the age of 18 (N = 229) were recruited from a community health fair and anonymously surveyed about their PC screening behavior and conditions of their social environment. Analysis included logistic regression.

FINDINGS

Fifty one percent of respondents reported receiving any form of PC screening within the past five years. Older age, higher levels of education, and access to a usual health care provider were associated with PC screening.

CONCLUSIONS

Social workers in preventive and community health settings should be increasingly attentive to the PC screening barriers facing African-American men, particularly those who may be undereducated and lack access to care.

Metformin and the incidence of prostate cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Several in vitro studies have indicated that metformin may reduce the risk of prostate cancer; however, epidemiologic studies have been inconclusive. The objective of this study was to determine whether metformin decreases the risk of prostate cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A nested case-control analysis was conducted within a population-based cohort from the UK General Practice Research Database. The cohort included patients over the age of 40 who were prescribed a first oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA) between 1988 and 2009. Cases of prostate cancer were matched up to ten controls on year of birth, date of cohort entry, and duration of follow-up. Adjusted rate ratios (RR) were estimated using conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

The cohort included 63,049 incident users of OHAs, in which 739 cases of prostate cancer were matched to 7,359 controls. Metformin use did not decrease the risk of prostate cancer (RR: 1.23, 95% CI: 0.99-1.52). In secondary analyses, prostate cancer risk was found to increase as a function of the number of metformin prescriptions received (one to seven prescriptions: RR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.80-1.37; seven to eighteen prescriptions: RR: 1.29, 95% CI: 0.99-1.69; eighteen to thirty-six prescriptions: RR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.04-1.81; more than thirty-six prescriptions: RR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03-1.89).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that metformin does not reduce the risk of prostate cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes.

IMPACT

The secondary analyses need to be interpreted with caution given the inverse association between type 2 diabetes and prostate cancer.

The role of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) in malignant diseases--a new potential target for antiproliferative drugs in prevention and treatment of cancer

The discovery of ERbeta in the middle of the 1990s represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of estrogen signaling. It has turned out that estrogen action is not mediated by one receptor, ERalpha, but by two balancing factors, ERalpha and ERbeta, which are often antagonistic to one another. Excitingly, ERbeta has been shown to be widespread in the body and to be involved in a multitude of physiological and pathophysiological events. This has led to a strong interest of the pharmaceutical industry to target ERbeta by drugs against various diseases. In this review, focus is on the role of ERbeta in malignant diseases where the anti proliferative activity of ERbeta gives hope of new therapeutic approaches.

The sphingosine kinase-1 survival pathway is a molecular target for the tumor-suppressive tea and wine polyphenols in prostate cancer

The sphingosine kinase-1/sphingosine 1-phosphate (SphK1/S1P) pathway has been associated with cancer promotion and progression and resistance to treatments in a number of cancers, including prostate adenocarcinoma. Here we provide the first evidence that dietary agents, namely, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg, IC(50)≈75 μM), resveratrol (IC(50)≈40 μM), or a mixture of polyphenols from green tea [polyphenon E (PPE), IC(50)≈70 μM] or grapevine extract (vineatrol, IC(50)≈30 μM), impede prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the SphK1/S1P pathway. We establish that SphK1 is a downstream effector of the ERK/phospholipase D (PLD) pathway, which is inhibited by green tea and wine polyphenols. Enforced expression of SphK1 impaired the ability of green tea and wine polyphenols, as well as pharmacological inhibitors of PLD and ERK activities, to induce apoptosis in PC-3 and C4-2B cells. The therapeutic efficacy of these polyphenols on tumor growth and the SphK1/S1P pathway were confirmed in animals using a heterotopic PC-3 tumor in place model. PC-3/SphK1 cells implanted in animals developed larger tumors and resistance to treatment with polyphenols. Furthermore, using an orthotopic PC-3/GFP model, the chemopreventive effect of an EGCg or PPE diet was associated with SphK1 inhibition, a decrease in primary tumor volume, and occurrence and number of metastases. These results provide the first demonstration that the prosurvival, antiapoptotic SphK1/S1P pathway represents a target of dietary green tea and wine polyphenols in cancer.

Trends in survival of patients diagnosed with male genital cancers in the Nordic countries 1964-2003 followed up until the end of 2006

BACKGROUND

Prostate, testicular and penile cancer constitute about one-third of the cancer incidence burden among Nordic males, but less than one-fifth of the corresponding mortality. The aim of this study is to describe and interpret trends in relative survival and excess mortality in the five Nordic populations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates, 5-year relative survival, and excess mortality rates for varying follow-up periods are presented, as are age-specific 5-year relative survival by country, sex and 5-year diagnostic period.

RESULTS

The vast majority of male genital cancer incident cases and deaths are prostate cancers, with 5-year and 10-year survival trends resembling the diagnostic-led increasing incidence over the past 25 years. Five-year prostate cancer survival is estimated at 53% in Denmark compared to 78% or above in the other Nordic populations for patients diagnosed 1999-2003. Excess mortality has declined over time, with Denmark having a greater excess of deaths compared to the other countries, irrespective of time of diagnosis. Concomitant with the declines in testicular cancer mortality, testicular cancer survival has increased since the 1970s in each Nordic country. Men diagnosed with testicular cancer in recent decades have had, on average, a continually better prognosis with time, with relative 5-year survival for patients diagnosed 1999-2003 ranging from 88% in Finland to 94% in Sweden. For the few patients diagnosed with cancer of the penis and other male genital organs, survival trends have been rather stable over time, with recent 5-year relative survival estimates ranging from 62% in Finland to 80% in Norway.

CONCLUSIONS

There are intriguing country-specific and temporal variations in male genital cancer survival in the Nordic countries. Prognosis varies widely by cancer site and relates to both changing diagnostic and clinical practices. The increasing PSA detection and biopsy makes interpretation of the prostate cancer survival trends particularly difficult.

Measurement of bone turnover in prostate cancer patients receiving intermittent androgen suppression therapy

Purpose

Reports on clinical measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) in prostate cancer patients undergoing intermittent androgen suppression therapy (IAS) that allows for hormonal recovery between treatment cycles indicate decreased osteoporosis compared to continuous androgen suppression therapy (CAS). In the present study the effect of IAS on bone metabolism by determinations of CrossLaps, a biochemical marker of collagen degradation, were examined.

Method

In total 100 IAS treatment cycles of 75 patients with prostate cancer stages ≥ pT2 were studied. Clinical data and monthly laboratory tests (testosterone, prostate-specific antigen; PSA) of these patients were monitored together with measurements of C-terminal telopeptide collagen fragments using CrossLaps® ELISA assays.

Results

During phases of androgen suppression (AS) lasting for 9 months serum testosterone (<1 ng/mL) and PSA (<2 ng/mL) levels were reversibly reduced, indicating partial growth arrest and apoptotic regression of the prostatic tumors. Serum CrossLaps concentrations peaked at the last 2 months of the AS phases (0.91 ± 0.25 μg/L; mean ± SEM) and were reduced below initial values (0.21 ± 0.43 versus baseline of 0.43 ± 0.06 μg/L) during therapy cessation periods until tumor progression-related increases.

Conclusion

Measurements of the serum concentration of CrossLaps in prostate cancer patients receiving IAS indicated that treatment cessation phases rapidly reversed increased bone degradation associated with AS phases, in strong agreement with the clinical observations reporting reduced loss of BMD in IAS when compared to CAS. In terms of clinical outcomes, IAS seems to be as effective as CAS while showing reduced side effects, as demonstrated here by the reduction of androgen-induced bone matrix degradation.

Polymorphisms of TP53 codon 72 with prostate carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis

Previous published data indicated TP53 codon 72 polymorphisms as risk factors for various cancers. A large number of studies have been conducted on the association of TP53 codon 72 polymorphisms with susceptibility to prostate carcinoma and have yielded inconclusive results. The aim of the present study is to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship. We conducted a search in the Medline, EMBASE, OVID, Sciencedirect, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) without a language limitation, covering all papers published up to Feb 2009. The associated literature was acquired through deliberate searching and selected based on the established inclusion criteria for publications. A total of six case-control studies, including 582 cases and 1075 controls, met the included criteria and thus were selected. Consequently, the relevant data were extracted and further analyzed using systematic meta-analyses. For the overall data, no associations of TP53 codon 72 polymorphisms with prostate carcinoma were observed (for Arg/Arg versus Pro/Pro: OR = 0.88; 95%CI = 0.62-1.25; for dominant model: OR = 1.05; 95%CI = 0.78-1.43; for recessive model: OR = 0.85; 95%CI = 0.67-1.06). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, individuals carrying Arg allele may have an increased susceptibility to prostate cancer compared with those carrying Pro allele in Caucasians. While for Asians, TP53 codon 72 polymorphism was unlikely to be a risk factor for prostate cancer. Moreover, TP53 codon 72 polymorphism seems to exert little effect on the metastasis and differentiation status of developing prostate carcinoma. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that TP53 codon 72 polymorphism might be a low-penetrant risk factor for developing prostate carcinoma in Caucasians but not in Asians.