Clinical association of metabolic syndrome, C-reactive protein and testosterone levels with clinically significant prostate cancer

Abstract

Recently, the influence that metabolic syndrome (MetS), hormonal alterations and inflammation might have on prostate cancer (PCa) risk has been a subject of controversial debate. Herein, we aimed to investigate the association between MetS-components, C-reactive protein (CRP) and testosterone levels, and the risk of clinically significant PCa (Sig-PCa) at the time of prostate biopsy. For that, men scheduled for transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate were studied. Clinical, laboratory parameters and criteria for MetS characterization just before the biopsy were collected. A total of 524 patients were analysed, being 195 (37.2%) subsequently diagnosed with PCa and 240 (45.8%) meet the diagnostic criteria for MetS. Among patients with PCa, MetS-diagnosis was present in 94 (48.2%). Remarkably, a higher risk of Sig-PCa was associated to MetS, greater number of MetS-components and higher CRP levels (odds-ratio: 1.83, 1.30 and 2.00, respectively; P < 0.05). Moreover, higher circulating CRP levels were also associated with a more aggressive Gleason score in PCa patients. Altogether, our data reveal a clear association between the presence of MetS, a greater number of MetS-components or CRP levels >2.5 mg/L with an increased Sig-PCa diagnosis and/or with aggressive features, suggesting that MetS and/or CRP levels might influence PCa pathophysiology.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; inflammation; metabolic syndrome; significant prostate cancer; testosterone.