title: Alternative Digit Ratios and Their Relationship to Prostate Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ratio of the second to the fourth digits (2D:4D) has been linked to prenatal androgen exposure and prostate cancer (PCa). The use of alternative finger ratios has been shown to be a greater indicator of sexual dimorphism when compared with the traditional 2D:4D ratio. This study aimed to assess the relationship between alternative digit ratios, racial demographics, and clinical/pathologic parameters associated with PCa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Digital finger length measurements were made from scanned images of hands from patients with PCa. Race, age, family history, history of metastasis, and Gleason score at diagnosis were assessed in a cross-sectional clinic-based study. Demographic and clinical parameters were analyzed with respect to various alternative finger length ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hand measurements were obtained in 354 white and 98 African-American patients with PCa. African-American men were more likely to have a smaller 2D:3D (P < .0001) and 2D:4D digit ratio (P < .0001) in both hands. Larger right (R)3D:5D (P = .0005), R4D:5D (P = .0014), and R2T:2D (P = .0501) digit ratios were present in African-Americans compared with whites. In exploratory analyses, African-American men with a smaller left (L)2T:2D ratio were younger at the time of PCa diagnosis (P = .0125). No relationship was found between the various digit ratios and Gleason score, the presence of metastatic disease, or family history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various alternative finger length ratios show strong differences between African-American and white men in this study. The potential relationship between the 2T:2D ratio and age at diagnosis in African-Americans needs additional verification.
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stolten
authors.affiliation: Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ledet
authors.affiliation: Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Ary
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dotiwala
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA; Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA. Electronic address: osartor@tulane.edu.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sartor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People
keywords: 2D:4D; Androgens; Exploration; Finger length; Race