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Clinical Research

Type 2 diabetes and risk of prostate cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 16, pages 151–158 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background:

Emerging evidence suggests that diabetes may increase the risk of cancers. However, available evidence on prostate cancer is conflicting. We therefore examined the association between Type 2 diabetes and risk of prostate cancer by conducting a detailed meta-analysis of all studies published regarding this subject.

Methods:

PubMed database and bibliographies of retrieved articles were searched for epidemiological studies (published between 1970 and 2011), investigating the relationship between Type 2 diabetes and prostate cancer. Pooled risk ratio (RR) was calculated using random-effects model. Subgroup, sensitivity analysis and cumulative meta-analysis were also done.

Results:

Forty-five studies (29 cohort and 16 case–control studies) involving 8.1 million participants and 132 331 prostate cancer cases detected a significant inverse association between Type 2 diabetes and risk of prostate cancer (RR 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–0.92). For cohort studies alone, the RR was 0.87 (95% CI 0.80–0.94), and for case–control studies alone, the RR was 0.85 (95% CI 0.74–0.96). Sensitivity analysis done by excluding one outlier further strengthened our negative association (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.78–0.87). No evidence of publication bias was observed.

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis provides strongest evidence supporting that Type 2 diabetes is significantly inversely associated with risk of developing prostate cancer.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Dimple Kondal, Senior scientist (Biostatistician), Centre for excellence, Public Health Foundation, India, for helping with the conduct of data analysis.

Author contributions

DB drafted the protocol, interpreted results and revised the final manuscript. GK and KU developed and ran the search strategy, extracted data from studies and carried out the analysis and wrote the draft manuscript. PT reviewed/edited the manuscript. AB contributed to the discussion and reviewed/edited the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali, India

    D Bansal, G Kapil, K Undela & P Tiwari

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    A Bhansali

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  1. D Bansal
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Correspondence to A Bhansali.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases website

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Bansal, D., Bhansali, A., Kapil, G. et al. Type 2 diabetes and risk of prostate cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 16, 151–158 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2012.40

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