title: Prostate growth and inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is emerging evidence that prostatic inflammation may contribute to prostate growth either in terms of hyperplastic (BPH) or neoplastic (PC) changes. Inflammation is thought to incite carcinogenesis by causing cell and genome damage, promoting cellular turnover.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed our personal experience and the international recent literature on the clinical data supporting a role of inflammation on BPH and PC growth and progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BPH: Among those patients with self-reported prostatitis, 57% had a history of BPH. MTOPS study showed that men with inflammation had a significantly higher risk of BPH progression and acute urinary retention. We showed that the use of a COX-2 inhibitor in combination with a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor could increase the apoptotic index in BPH tissue. Prostate cancer: A PCR-based analysis of bacterial colonization in PC specimens and normal prostate tissue showed highly suggestive correlation of bacterial colonization and chronic inflammation with a diagnosis of PC. Evidence from genetic studies support the hypothesis that prostate inflammation may be a cause of prostate cancer. De Marzo proposed that proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) is a precursor to PIN and cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concept that inflammation can promote prostate growth either in terms of BPH and PC risk remains highly suggestive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology U Bracci, University La Sapienza, Via Nomentana 233, Rome, Italy. sciarrajr@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciarra
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salciccia
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Autran Gomez
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Silverio
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000502:physiology; D011467:Prostate / Q000254:growth & development*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000209:etiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases