Obesity and prostate cancer: What is the relationship?

Obesity has been linked to the incidence and mortality of several malignancies, including prostate cancer. Increased body mass appears to have a more consistent association with prostate cancer death than incidence and recent studies suggest that it is related to higher recurrence rates after radical prostatectomy. Several potential biologic mechanisms have been proposed to explain why obesity might result in more aggressive disease, including alterations in hormonal milieu, high insulin levels, and liberation of growth factors from fat cells. Since obesity is one of few modifiable risk factors that may impact the clinical course of this cancer, lifestyle and dietary changes to limit obesity should be recommended.