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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
06:48
An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Published on: September 18, 2013
Height and prostate cancer risk: a large nested case-control study (ProtecT) and meta-analysis
Luisa Zuccolo1, Ross Harris, David Gunnell
1Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom. l.zuccolo@bristol.ac.uk
Summary
Adult height shows a limited association with prostate cancer incidence but may influence cancer progression. Leg length, a component of height, was linked to higher-grade prostate cancer, suggesting further investigation into underlying mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
- Human Growth
Background:
- Adult height, a proxy for childhood environmental factors, is linked to prostate cancer risk.
- The insulin-like growth factor system may mediate the association between height and prostate cancer.
- Investigating height and its components (leg and trunk length) in relation to prostate cancer is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between adult height and prostate cancer risk.
- To explore the association of leg and trunk length with prostate cancer.
- To conduct a dose-response meta-analysis on height and prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study within a randomized controlled trial of 1,357 prostate cancer cases and 7,990 controls.
- Systematic literature search of nine bibliographic databases for height-prostate cancer association studies.
- Meta-analysis of 58 identified studies to pool data and assess overall association.
Main Results:
- In the nested case-control study, height showed a non-significant association with prostate-specific antigen-detected prostate cancer (OR 1.06 per 10 cm).
- Height was associated with high-grade prostate cancer (OR 1.23), primarily due to leg length, but not low-grade disease (OR 0.99).
- Meta-analysis of 58 studies confirmed a positive association between height and prostate cancer (OR 1.06 per 10 cm), with stronger effects for aggressive cancers (OR 1.12).
Conclusions:
- Adult height, as an indicator of childhood environment, has a limited role in prostate cancer incidence.
- Height, particularly leg length, may play a greater role in prostate cancer progression.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking height and prostate cancer progression.
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