title: Self-reported acne is not associated with prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some studies have suggested an inverse association between acne vulgaris and the acne-related bacterium Propionibacterium acnes and prostate cancer (PCa). Self-reported acne might be an easily obtainable marker to identify men at relatively low risk of PCa and might be incorporated into PCa risk calculators. This study aimed to evaluate the association between self-reported acne and PCa in a large case-referent study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case group comprised 942 patients with PCa recruited from a population-based cancer registry in 2003 to 2006, 647 of whom met the criteria for aggressive PCa. The referents (n = 2,062) were a random sample of the male general population. All subjects completed a questionnaire on risk factors for cancer, including questions about acne. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using multivariable logistic regression for PCa and aggressive PCa as separate end points, while adjusting for age and family history of PCa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A history of acne was reported by 320 cases (33.9%) and 739 referents (35.8%). Self-reported acne was significantly associated neither with PCa (adjusted OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.80-1.12) nor with aggressive PCa (adjusted OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.80-1.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported acne is not suitable as a marker to identify men at low risk of aggressive PCa.
authors.affiliation: Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ruben G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cremers
authors.affiliation: Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Comprehensive Cancer Centre The Netherlands, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Katja K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Aben
authors.affiliation: Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sita H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.affiliation: Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: den Heijer
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Inge M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: van Oort
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jack A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schalken
authors.affiliation: Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Comprehensive Cancer Centre The Netherlands, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: bart.kiemeney@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Lambertus A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kiemeney
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Acne vulgaris; Aggressive prostate cancer; Marker; Propionibacterium acnes; Prostate cancer; Risk factor