Occupation and prostate Cancer risk: results from the epidemiological study of prostate cancer (EPICAP)

Although prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequent male cancer in industrialized countries, little is known about its aetiology. The literature has suggested an influence of the environment, including occupational exposures, but results are inconsistent. In this context, we investigated PCa risk associated to employment among several occupations using data from EPICAP study.

EPICAP is a French population-based case-control study including 819 PCa incident cases and 879 controls frequency-matched on age. In-person interviews gathered data on potential risk factors and lifetime occupational histories for each job held at least 6 months. Then, occupations were coded using ISCO 68. Unconditional logistic regressions were performed to assess the association between occupations (ever occupied and by duration) and PCa risk, whether all and aggressive, after adjusting for potential confounders.

For ≥10 years of employment, we found positive associations with PCa, whether overall and aggressive, among Medical, Dental and Veterinary workers (OR (odds ratios) =5.01 [95% confidence interval] [1.27; 19.77]), Members of the armed forces (OR = 5.14 [0.99; 26.71]) and Fishermen, hunters and related workers (OR = 4.58 [1.33; 15.78]); whether overall and non-aggressive PCa, among Legislative officials and Government administrators (OR = 3.30 [1.10; 9.84]) or Managers (OR = 1.68 [1.18; 2.41]); however a negative association, whether overall and non-aggressive PCa, among Material-Handling and Related Equipment Operators, Dockers and Freight Handlers (OR = 0.40 [0.17; 0.97]).

Excess PCa risks were observed in the EPICAP study mostly among white collar workers exposed to several factors in their work environment. These emerging associations can be used to lead future research investigating specific occupational exposures.