A prospective study of Trichomonas vaginalis and prostate cancer risk among African American men. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fowke, Jay; Han, Xijing; Alderete, J.; Moses, Kelvin; Signorello, Lisa; Blot, William
• Is Part Of: BMC research notes. Volume 9:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 3
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Prostate cancer -- Trichomonas vaginalis -- Race; Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-2033-3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-0500

Abstract

Abstract Background African Americans (AA) have a higher prevalence ofTrichomonas vaginalis (Tv ) infection and a higher prostate (PC) risk. Past studies suggest an association betweenTv seropositivity and PC, and therefore we prospectively investigated this association among AA men. Results Incident PC cases were individually matched to controls in a nested case–control study within the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS). Primary analysis included 296 PC cases and 497 race-matched controls. Levels ofTv antibody response were measured by ELISA in serum collected at baseline.Tv antibody response did not significantly differ between cases and controls overall or within AA participants (253 AA cases). There were no significant associations or trends between levels ofTv response and PC risk or the diagnosis of aggressive PC. Conclusion We found no evidence of a prospective association between baselineTv infection and PC risk in AA men.Tv infection in men may have substantial health implications in HIV transmission and reproductive outcomes, but may not impact future PC risk in AA men at high-risk for PC. Further efforts need to define past vs. presentTv infection and to separate pathophysiology from PC detection.