Hand pattern indicates prostate cancer risk.
BACKGROUND
The ratio of digit lengths is fixed in utero, and may be a proxy indicator for prenatal testosterone levels.


METHODS
We analysed the right-hand pattern and prostate cancer risk in 1524 prostate cancer cases and 3044 population-based controls.


RESULTS
Compared with index finger shorter than ring finger (low 2D : 4D), men with index finger longer than ring finger (high 2D : 4D) showed a negative association, suggesting a protective effect with a 33% risk reduction (odds ratio (OR) 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57-0.80). Risk reduction was even greater (87%) in age group <60 (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.09-0.21).


CONCLUSIONS
Pattern of finger lengths may be a simple marker of prostate cancer risk, with length of 2D greater than 4D suggestive of lower risk.
Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
A A
AA
Rahman
A
A
Lophatananon
S
S
Stewart-Brown
D
D
Harriss
J
J
Anderson
T
T
Parker
D
D
Easton
Z
Z
Kote-Jarai
R
R
Pocock
D
D
Dearnaley
M
M
Guy
L
L
O'Brien
R A
RA
Wilkinson
A L
AL
Hall
E
E
Sawyer
E
E
Page
J-F
JF
Liu
R A
RA
Eeles
K
K
Muir
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors