The association between local atherosclerosis and prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE To morphometrically compare local atherosclerotic changes in cancerous prostate with those in noncancerous prostate specimens, as epidemiological studies report a positive association between the prevalence of general atherosclerosis and prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The intima‐to‐media‐ratio (IMR) of 538 prostate capsular tissue arteries was measured in 50 prostate cancer‐positive and 29 prostate cancer‐negative specimens (including 26 with benign prostatic hyperplasia and three with normal prostatic tissue). RESULTS An IMR of >1 was significantly associated with prostate cancer and a greater risk of prostate cancer (odds ratio 2.28). The IMR was >1 in cancer‐positive specimens about twice as often as in cancer‐negative tissue. CONCLUSION Local atherosclerosis (measured by the IMR) was more pronounced in prostate cancer‐positive than in prostate cancer‐negative specimens. The results support the view that men with local atherosclerotic lesions are at higher risk of prostate cancer.