Medical history and etiology of prostate cancer.

Abstract

The clinical course of prostate cancer is influenced by hormonal therapies; hence it is plausible that clinical syndromes that influence hormonal levels also affect risk of prostate cancer. Hormones may be involved in its etiology as well as various clinical conditions that may be related to hormonal imbalance such as cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus. Cirrhosis induces changes in estrogen metabolism as it is noted in the development of testicular atrophy and gynecomastia due to hyperestrogenism. Autopsy studies are conducted to investigate the relation of cirrhosis with prostate cancer prevalence. Meanwhile the relation between diabetes and prostate cancer is likely to be complex as noted on the discrepancies between study of health professionals and the Cancer Prevention Study. On the other hand several studies have examined vasectomy in relation to risk of prostate cancer. However biologic basis underlying such relation remains to be speculative. In terms of a link between inflammatory states and carcinogenesis prostatitis is considered as having carcinogenic potential. As such study of chronic prostatitis in relation to prostate cancer should be undertaken since the epidemiologic data are insufficient.