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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
13:45
A Method to Study the Correlation Between Local Collagen Structure and Mechanical Properties of Atherosclerotic Plaque Fibrous Tissue
Published on: November 11, 2022
The association between local atherosclerosis and prostate cancer
Martina Hager1, Gregor Mikuz, Georg Bartsch
1Department of Pathology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria. hager.martina@gmx.at
BJU International
|November 10, 2006
Summary
Men with more pronounced local atherosclerosis, measured by intima-to-media ratio (IMR), face a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. This study found higher IMR in cancerous prostate tissue compared to non-cancerous tissue.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Epidemiological studies suggest a link between general atherosclerosis and prostate cancer prevalence.
- Understanding local atherosclerotic changes in prostate tissue is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To morphometrically compare local atherosclerotic changes in cancerous versus non-cancerous prostate specimens.
- To investigate the association between intima-to-media ratio (IMR) and prostate cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of the intima-to-media ratio (IMR) in 538 prostate capsular tissue arteries.
- Analysis of 50 prostate cancer-positive and 29 prostate cancer-negative specimens.
Main Results:
- An intima-to-media ratio (IMR) greater than 1 was significantly associated with prostate cancer (odds ratio 2.28).
- IMR >1 was observed approximately twice as frequently in cancer-positive specimens compared to cancer-negative tissue.
Conclusions:
- Local atherosclerosis, indicated by elevated IMR, is more pronounced in prostate cancer-positive specimens.
- Findings support the hypothesis that men with local atherosclerotic lesions have an increased risk of prostate cancer.
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