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Diabetes and the risk of prostate cancer: the role of diabetes treatment and complications

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 10, pages 46–51 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Epidemiologic evidence suggests diabetic men have a slightly lower prostate cancer risk than non-diabetic men. We examined this association in a prospective cohort study of 35 239 men, 50–76 years old, in Washington State who completed a baseline questionnaire between 2000 and 2002. Incident prostate cancers as of 31 December 2004 were identified through the SEER registry. Diabetic men had a slightly lower risk of prostate cancer than non-diabetic men (hazard ratio (HR) 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64–1.07). Insulin users overall and insulin users with diabetic complications had decreased risks, compared to non-diabetic men (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26–0.92) and (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.15–0.87), respectively. Oral medication use for diabetes was not associated with prostate cancer. Insulin is likely a marker of severity of diabetes. Future studies of this association should consider diabetes type, treatment, severity, complications and biomarkers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    C M Velicer & E White

  2. Northwest Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA

    S Dublin

  3. Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    E White

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  1. C M Velicer
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  2. S Dublin
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  3. E White
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Correspondence to C M Velicer.

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Velicer, C., Dublin, S. & White, E. Diabetes and the risk of prostate cancer: the role of diabetes treatment and complications. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 10, 46–51 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500914

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