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Physical Activity and Prostate Cancer

• The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study investigated physical activity in relation to prostate cancer among white men and African-American men, who have much higher incidence rates.
• Among white men, physical activity had no association with prostate cancer regardless of age period or activity intensity. Among African-American men, engaging in at least 4 hours of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity versus infrequent activity during ages 19 years to 29 years was related to a 35% lower risk of prostate cancer. Frequent moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at ages 35 years to 39 years may reduce the risk of prostate cancer in this population.
• After combining the two populations, neither vigorous exercise at baseline nor exercise during adolescence was related to risk of total, advanced, or fatal prostate cancer in this large prospective cohort.

Prostate Cancer Study in Shanghai

• This population-based multidisciplinary case-control study was conducted in Shanghai, China to investigate the reasons for the extremely low risk of prostate cancer in China and to evaluate factors that might explain the recent increase in incidence in this low-risk population.
• The study included approximately 900 subjects (both cases and controls).
• Results to date suggest that higher levels of education, a high waist-to-hip ratio (an indicator of central obesity), and a higher intake of total calories, red meat, and animal fat and protein are associated with an increased risk.
• For more information, see this additional DCEG webpage.

Prostate Cancer in the PLCO Cancer Screening Trial Cohort

• A nested case-control study of 1,400 cases and 1,400 controls within the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial is evaluating the role of obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation.
• The ongoing study includes both a serum-based component to evaluate metabolic markers associated with insulin resistance and a genetic component to assess susceptibility in genes involved in the insulin signaling and chronic inflammation pathways.
• The large sample size of the study permits investigation of relatively small effects of biochemical markers and genetic determinants of prostate cancer. It also provides a rare opportunity to clarify whether those who are "metabolically obese" (men who are insulin resistant but do not have the obesity phenotype) have an increased risk of prostate cancer.
• For more information, see these additional webpages (1, 2)