Journal
UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY-SEMINARS AND ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONS
Volume 31, Issue 7, Pages 951-965Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2012.01.013
Keywords
Prostate cancer; Infection; Etiology; Sexually transmitted diseases; Serology
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Funding
- Internal Grant Agency of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic [NS9984]
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Background: The potential role of genitourinary infection in the etiology of prostate cancer (CaP) has been extensively investigated for 30 years. Two basic approaches have been used: tissue-based methods (polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization) and serologic assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence, etc.). The objective of this review was to answer the question of whether infection of the male genitourinary tract may have a role in the etiology of CaP. Materials and methods: We have carried out a systematic review of the evidence that was published in the MEDLINE/PubMed database until December 2011. The search terms included prostate cancer, infection, and the explicit names of the various infectious agents. Additional studies were identified using a reference search. A total of 74 papers were included in the review, which cover the following infectious agents: human papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus, BK virus, JC virus, chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, trichomonas, neisseria, treponema, Propionibacterium acnes, xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus and Candida albicans. Results: Despite the variable study designs and methodological approaches that were used, most of the pathogens that were studied were unlikely to be directly involved in prostate carcinogenesis. Conclusions: The role of infection in the etiology of CaP has yet to be determined despite 30 years of research efforts. A discovery of an infectious agent that is associated with CaP would be of great medical importance; however, such a link would have to be firmly established before impacting on patient care. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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