Genitourinary tract infections in patient history do not correlate with prostate cancer biological behaviour and prognosis
Abstract
An association between genitourinary infection and prostate cancer has not been clearly demonstrated despite the past 20 years research efforts. No research group has investigated, however, the possible role infection could play in prostate cancer behaviour and the disease course.
In our case-control study, we have evaluated 317 patients who had undergone radical retro-pubic prostatectomy for a clinically localized prostate cancer; we were looking for a possible correlation between the presence of antibodies (surrogate marker of past infection) to various genitourinary pathogens and the tumour biological behaviour. These sexually transmitted agents were included in the study: human cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, human papillomavirus 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Treponema pallidum.
We have correlated antibody presence and serum antibody levels with the tumour clinical and pathological characteristics: local staging, Gleason score and prostatic specific antigen level. No clinically significant differences were found.
No association has been found between prostate cancer biological behaviour - i.e. its prognosis - and genitourinary infectious diseases in patient history.