The association between metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer: Effect on its aggressiveness and progression

To evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome and its individual components on prostate biopsy findings, the radical prostatectomy specimen and on biochemical recurrence.

An observational study was conducted of 1319 men who underwent prostate biopsy between January 2007 and December 2011. The impact on the biopsy findings, the radical prostatectomy specimen and biochemical recurrence was evaluated using logistic regression and Cox regression.

Of the 1319 patients, 275 (21%) had metabolic syndrome, and 517 prostate cancers were diagnosed. A greater percentage of metabolic syndrome was found among patients with prostate cancer than among patients without prostate cancer (25% vs. 18%; P=.002). Poorer results were found in the radical prostatectomy specimens (Gleason score ≥ 7, P<.001; stage ≥ T2c, P<.001; positive surgical margins, P<.001), and there was a greater percentage of biochemical recurrence in patients with metabolic syndrome than in those without metabolic syndrome (24% vs. 13%; P=.003). Metabolic syndrome behaved as an independent predictive factor of finding a Gleason score ≥ 7 for the specimen, as well as for finding a specimen stage ≥ T2c. Metabolic syndrome was also able to independently predict a greater rate of biochemical recurrence (OR: 3.6, P<.001; OR: 3.2, P=.03; HR: 1.7; respectively).

Metabolic syndrome is associated with poorer findings in the radical prostatectomy specimens and is an independent prognostic factor of biochemical recurrence.