Causes Of Prostate Cancer : Environmental Influences And Nutrition

Causes of prostate cancer

Why originate prostate cancer cells and some further progress to a life-threatening disease, is unknown. Risk factors include age as well as genetic, hormonal and other factors apply.
Age is the greatest risk factor for the development of prostate cancer. While this tumor before the age of 45 Age is virtually nonexistent, the incidence rate rises steadily thereafter, and from the 60th Of life sharply to a peak in the 70-79 year-olds, to then decrease again (see the section "Frequency" under age distribution ). In recent years an increase in the younger and a decline in the older age groups were observed, probably because the men can always investigate before. In addition to age following, only partly modifiable risk factors are discussed:

Genetic factors

Prostate cancer occurs in different populations in different incidence (low in Asia, higher in colored than in white Americans, higher in Northern Europe than in Southern Europe, see alsoincidence of prostate cancer ). This suggests an influence of genetic factors, but excludes other causes not (eg environmental influences and nutrition).

The same applies to 10-20% of prostate cancers that occur frequently within families. Thus one speaks of a family prostate cancer if at least two first degree relatives (father, brother, son) or a first-degree and two or more second-degree relatives are affected. In about half the cases, there is even a hereditary (hereditary) prostate cancer, then if at least three first-degree relatives or three generations are affected in a row or two brothers at a younger age.

Such tumors arise probably through the interaction of genetic changes and other factors. Some candidate genes have been identified, other segments of DNA, and especially the question of why not itself developed in existing genetic modifications in any case prostate cancer are still under investigation.

Men whose fathers and / or brothers are suffering from prostate cancer or had to have at least twice as likely to also develop such a tumor (relative risk, 2.5 to 4.3 for each first-degree relatives). It also increases the more, the younger, are ever more closely related and more numerous the persons themselves or were (see also prostate cancer in relatives increases its own risk ). The greater risk of disease and the fact that the hereditary prostate cancer occurs 6-7 years earlier than usual, should give rise to take in prostate cancer in the family screening early and often to complete.

Hormonal factors

Male sex hormones ( androgens ) play an important role in prostate cancer. So is this cancer after castration before puberty does not occur (for eunuch) and after castration before the 40thAge or other disorders with disturbance of androgen only very rarely. In addition, the reduction of androgens ("androgen deprivation") can lead to both a shrinkage of the prostate as well as for regression of prostate cancer (see hormone therapy for prostate cancer ).

Another note is the relative rarity of prostate cancer in Asians (see frequency of prostate cancer ). For them, the androgen should be lower than in Europeans and North Americans, as well as taking place in the prostate conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone, see sex hormones ). This could be genetic, but also on the diet, environmental, or other unknown factors go back (see below).
So far, many questions remain unanswered, such as whether androgens can cause prostate cancer or merely encourage the growth of tumors arising from other reasons. Maybe not even a single androgen such as testosterone or DHT is responsible for the effect, but an imbalance of several hormones, among which are also female sex hormones ( estrogens ) may be kept. In men with a lack of testosterone replacement of this hormone seems at least not to increase the risk of prostate cancer (cf. Testosterone replacement therapy and prostate cancer ).

Environmental influences and nutrition

For Asians who immigrate to the U.S., the risk for prostate cancer increases, it is the same as for native Americans in the next generation. This illustrates the influence of the environment and food, maybe not on the rise, but at least on the growth of prostate cancer.

Among the environmental factors, there may also be those with a positive effect: The natural UV radiation from the sun promotes the formation of vitamin D in the skin and so should have a protective effect. This could explain the significant north-south gradient in the incidence of prostate cancer in Europe. An influence of diet or other factors would, however, also conceivable.
Secured findings on the role of nutrition are not currently available. Could increase the risk of prostate cancer, the increased supply of meat (especially red), fat (especially animal, saturated fat), milk, dairy products and some micronutrients (eg, zinc). Other foods such as tomato products and soy could reduce it, however. With regard to obesity, there are conflicting data (more on nutrition, see the prevention of prostate cancer ).

Other factors

Inflammation plays a role (eg in the liver) in the pathogenesis of many malignant tumors. This could also apply to prostate cancer, for example, by promoting the formation of a so-called HG-PIN , a cancer precursor. The disease risk seems at least according to prostatitis and sexually transmitted diseases (eg syphilis ) slightly increased. Regarding different viruses, the available data is insufficient.

The relationship between physical activity and prostate cancer is unclear, but thought to act preventively smooth motion. However, smoking and alcohol consumption seem the emergence of prostate cancer does not promote smoking its progression (to exercise, smoking and alcohol see also prevent prostate cancer ).

Infertility could be a prostate cancer contribute (see risk for aggressive prostate cancer at increased infertility ). Probably have no effect on prostate cancer risk, however, vasectomy (interruption of the vas deferens, "sterilization"), sexual behavior, benign prostate enlargement ( benign prostatic syndrome ), diabetes mellitus ("diabetes"), occupation and social status.