A recently published study has now shown that the risk of prostate cancer is similarly increased in families with a high incidence of precancerous lesions. This could therefore be relevant for individual early detection and counseling in the future.
Men whose father or brother has already been diagnosed with or died of prostate cancer have a higher risk of contracting the disease themselves due to family history. However, it was previously unknown whether this also applies to precancerous stages in relatives.
The researchers used data from a Swedish cancer registry with over 6.3 million men born after 1931. The observation period within the study period ranged from 1958 to 2015.
Of the men included in the study, 238,196 (3.8%) had an invasive prostate carcinoma and a further 5,756 men (= 0.09%) had a preliminary stage of cancer during the observation period.
Men whose first-degree relatives (father and/or brother) had had neoplasia had an overall increased risk of invasive prostate carcinoma by about 70% (standardized incidence ratio or SIR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.5-1.9). Mortality from prostate cancer was also increased in these men (standardized mortality ratio or SMR) = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.2).
Interestingly, the risk for men whose father or brother suffered from proven neoplasia was almost as high as for invasive prostate cancer in these first-degree family members (SIR = 2.1 and SMR = 1.8). The risk of developing invasive prostate cancer was particularly high if the diagnosis was made in first-degree family members before the age of 60.
It has long been known that a family history of prostate cancer, e.g. in the father or brothers, significantly increases the risk of developing prostate cancer in one's own lifetime. These so-called high-risk patients receive a close mesh and usually earlier starting prevention according to guidelines.
The present study has now also shown that even the diagnosis of precancerous lesions (neoplasia) in first-degree relatives significantly increases the individual risk of developing and/or dying of invasive prostate cancer.
According to the study authors, these findings should be taken into account as a matter of urgency in future screening planning. This includes first and foremost the early offer of a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test, which is still the only available screening test for prostate problems or prostate cancer.
Source:
Xu X et al, Risk of Invasive Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer Death in Relatives of Patients With Prostatic Borderline or In Situ