2D:4D digit ratio as a potential marker for prostate cancer risk

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Cancer Research
• Urology and Andrology

Background:

• The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is a proposed biomarker for prenatal sex steroid hormone exposure.
• Investigating the 2D:4D ratio's association with prostate cancer risk is crucial for understanding disease etiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and the likelihood of developing prostate cancer.
• To determine if this association differs based on cancer aggressiveness or ancestry.

Main Methods:

• A population-based case-control study (PROtEuS) in Montréal, Canada, involving 1931 prostate cancer cases and 1994 controls.
• Data collection included in-person interviews and standardized measurement of digit lengths.
• Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for confounders.

Main Results:

• A decreased 2D:4D ratio was associated with a reduced odds of overall prostate cancer (OR=0.91).
• The inverse association was more pronounced for aggressive prostate cancers (OR=0.85).
• An interaction with ancestry was observed, with a higher OR for prostate cancer among men of African descent with a higher 2D:4D ratio (OR=1.23).

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest an inverse association between 2D:4D ratio and prostate cancer risk, particularly for aggressive disease.
• A low 2D:4D ratio, indicative of higher prenatal testosterone, may be linked to increased prostate cancer risk.
• The 2D:4D ratio's utility as a potential prostate cancer risk marker warrants further investigation, especially considering ethnic variations.