Weight is a factor in aggressive forms of prostate cancer

Obese men tend to develop more aggressive prostate cancers and have more recurrences after surgery than men who are of normal weight or simply overweight, two studies have found.

Urologist Dr. Christopher Amling of the U.S. Naval Medical Center in San Diego led one study -- of 3,162 prostate cancer patients, 19% of whom were obese.

Dr. Stephen J. Freedland, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, conducted the other study -- of 1,106 patients, 22% of whom were obese. Obesity was defined as having a body mass index greater than 30, the equivalent of weighing at least 210 pounds for a 5-foot-10 male.

In an accompanying commentary, Dr. Alfred I. Neugut, head of cancer prevention at Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, wrote that with prostate cancers increasing, it will be important to determine whether lifestyle changes can help those already diagnosed. The results were reported Dec. 22 in the online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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-- Jane E. Allen