The association between local atherosclerosis and prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To morphometrically compare local atherosclerotic changes in cancerous prostate with those in noncancerous prostate specimens, as epidemiological studies report a positive association between the prevalence of general atherosclerosis and prostate cancer.


METHODS
The intima-to-media-ratio (IMR) of 538 prostate capsular tissue arteries was measured in 50 prostate cancer-positive and 29 prostate cancer-negative specimens (including 26 with benign prostatic hyperplasia and three with normal prostatic tissue).


RESULTS
An IMR of >1 was significantly associated with prostate cancer and a greater risk of prostate cancer (odds ratio 2.28). The IMR was >1 in cancer-positive specimens about twice as often as in cancer-negative tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Local atherosclerosis (measured by the IMR) was more pronounced in prostate cancer-positive than in prostate cancer-negative specimens. The results support the view that men with local atherosclerotic lesions are at higher risk of prostate cancer.
Hager
Martina
M
Department of Pathology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria. hager.martina@gmx.at
Mikuz
Gregor
G
Bartsch
Georg
G
Kolbitsch
Christian
C
Moser
Patrizia L
PL
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000098:blood supply; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors