مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Relation between chronic prostatitis and prostate cancer

Abstract :

The mechanism and etiology of prostate cancer development has not been clearly established up to date. The discovery of prostate specific antigen (PSA) has become a cornerstone in the prostate cancer diagnosis. PSA is an important organ specific tumor marker, however, it is not cancer specific. It is well known that hystopathologic changes develop in tissues where inflammation occurs. Infection and inflammation are complex response in which several pathways play role and some of these pathways are activated during the cancer process, as well. Chronic inflammation and chronic infections play important role in carcinogenesis of various organ (such as bladder, liver, colon, esophagus and stomach) and are considered to be etiologic factors in about 20% of cancers. Epidemiologic, hystologic and genetic studies suggests that there may be a relation between common conditions such as prostatitis and prostate cancer. As a conclusion, the conditions that trigger and sustain the inflammatory process may be very important for prostatic carcinogenesis.