A comparison of sunlight exposure in men with prostate cancer and basal cell carcinoma

Ultraviolet radiation exposure increases basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk, but may be protective against prostate cancer. We attempted to identify exposure patterns that confer reduced prostate cancer risk without increasing that of BCC. We used a questionnaire to assess exposure in 528 prostate cancer patients and 442 men with basal cell carcinoma, using 365 benign prostatic hypertrophy patients as controls. Skin type 1 (odds ratio (OR)=0.47, 95% CI=0.26–0.86), childhood sunburning (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.26–0.57), occasional/frequent sunbathing (OR=0.21, 95% CI=0.14–0.31), lifetime weekday (OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.80–0.91) and weekend exposure (OR=0.79, 95% CI=0.73–0.86) were associated with reduced prostate cancer risk. Skin type 1 (OR=4.00, 95% CI=2.16–7.41), childhood sunburning (OR=1.91, 95% CI=1.36–2.68), regular foreign holidays (OR=6.91, 95% CI=5.00-9.55) and weekend (OR=1.17, 95% CI=1.08–1.27) but not weekday exposure were linked with increased BCC risk. Combinations of one or two parameters were associated with a progressive decrease in the ORs for prostate cancer risk (OR=0.54–0.25) with correspondingly increased BCC risk (OR=1.60–2.54). Our data do not define exposure patterns that reduce prostate cancer risk without increasing BCC risk

Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet

It has been estimated that 30–40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone. Obesity, nutrient sparse foods such as concentrated sugars and refined flour products that contribute to impaired glucose metabolism (which leads to diabetes), low fiber intake, consumption of red meat, and imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 fats all contribute to excess cancer risk. Intake of flax seed, especially its lignan fraction, and abundant portions of fruits and vegetables will lower cancer risk. Allium and cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial, with broccoli sprouts being the densest source of sulforophane. Protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, chlorophyll, and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin). Ascorbic acid has limited benefits orally, but could be very beneficial intravenously. Supplementary use of oral digestive enzymes and probiotics also has merit as anticancer dietary measures. When a diet is compiled according to the guidelines here it is likely that there would be at least a 60–70 percent decrease in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and even a 40–50 percent decrease in lung cancer, along with similar reductions in cancers at other sites. Such a diet would be conducive to preventing cancer and would favor recovery from cancer as well

Prognostic factors in prostate cancer

Prognostic factors in organ confined prostate cancer will reflect survival after surgical radical prostatectomy. Gleason score, tumour volume, surgical margins and Ki-67 index have the most significant prognosticators. Also the origins from the transitional zone, p53 status in cancer tissue, stage, and aneuploidy have shown prognostic significance. Progression-associated features include Gleason score, stage, and capsular invasion, but PSA is also highly significant. Progression can also be predicted with biological markers (E-cadherin, microvessel density, and aneuploidy) with high level of significance. Other prognostic features of clinical or PSA-associated progression include age, IGF-1, p27, and Ki-67. In patients who were treated with radiotherapy the survival was potentially predictable with age, race and p53, but available research on other markers is limited. The most significant published survival-associated prognosticators of prostate cancer with extension outside prostate are microvessel density and total blood PSA. However, survival can potentially be predicted by other markers like androgen receptor, and Ki-67-positive cell fraction. In advanced prostate cancer nuclear morphometry and Gleason score are the most highly significant progression-associated prognosticators. In conclusion, Gleason score, capsular invasion, blood PSA, stage, and aneuploidy are the best markers of progression in organ confined disease. Other biological markers are less important. In advanced disease Gleason score and nuclear morphometry can be used as predictors of progression. Compound prognostic factors based on combinations of single prognosticators, or on gene expression profiles (tested by DNA arrays) are promising, but clinically relevant data is still lacking

Correlação entre fotoproteção e concentrações de 25 hidroxi-vitamina D e paratormônio Correlation between photoprotection and 25 hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels

FUNDAMENTOS- A preocupação com o risco de câncer da pele levou à difusão da fotoproteção em larga escala, e atualmente se discute se haveria, associado a essa recomendação, risco para o desenvolvimento de hipovitaminose D. OBJETIVOS - Avaliar em pacientes orientados para proteção solar, o estado atual de seu estoque de vitamina D. MÉTODOS - Avaliaram-se as concentrações de 25 hidroxivitamina D (25OHD e do hormônio da paratireóide (PTH) em grupos de indivíduos com e sem orientação para fotoproteção, moradores da cidade de São Paulo. RESULTADOS - Encontrou-se diferença significativa entre os níveis de 25OHD, maiores no grupo fotoexposto, 35,4ng/mL [21,86- 72,20], em relação ao fotoprotegido, 29,2ng/mL [23,10-45,80]. Também houve diferença com relação ao PTH, maior no grupo fotoexposto, 29,8pg/mL [18,98-73,94], do que no fotoprotegido, 19,24pg/mL [8,06-66,18]. CONCLUSÕES - Apesar dessas diferenças, não havia indivíduos deficientes de vitamina D nessa amostra, e os níveis de PTH mantiveram- se dentro dos valores de normalidade. A radiação ultravioleta solar do cotidiano foi suficiente para promover uma síntese adequada de 25OHD.<br>BACKGROUND - The great concern about skin cancer risk led to the dissemination of photoprotection in high scale. Nowadays the association of this recommendation and the risk of develop hypovitaminosis D is discussed. OBJECTIVE - To evaluate vitamin D storage in patients submitted to sun protection. METHODS - The levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were evaluated in groups of individuals living in the city of São Paulo who received or not orientation about photoprotection. RESULTS - Significant differences in 25OHD levels were found between the groups, being higher in the photoexposed group (35.40 ng/mL [21.86-72.20]) as compared to the photoprotected group (29.20 ng/mL [23.10-45.80]). There was also difference in PTH levels, being higher in the photoexposed group (29.80 pg/mL [18.98-73.94]) in comparison to the photoprotected group (19.24 pg/mL [8.06-66.18]). CONCLUSIONS - Despite these differences, there were no individuals presenting vitamin D deficiency in this sample and PTH levels were within normal range. The routine solar ultraviolet radiation was enough to promote appropriate synthesis of 25OHD