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A population study of neutering status as a risk factor for canine prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Bryan Jeffrey N.,
Keeler Matthew R.,
Henry Carolyn J.,
Bryan Margaret E.,
Hahn Allen W.,
Caldwell Charles W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.20590
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate cancer , neutering , prostate , population , risk factor , odds ratio , oncology , gynecology , cancer , urology , transitional cell carcinoma , bladder cancer , cats , environmental health
BACKGROUND Prostate cancer has been reported to occur more commonly in neutered than intact male dogs in several case series. This study was undertaken to evaluate risk of prostate cancer in a large population database. The hypothesis was that castration is a risk factor for prostate cancer in male companion dogs. METHODS Data were derived from recorded visits to North American veterinary teaching hospitals. The Veterinary Medical Databases (VMDB) were queried to yield male dogs with urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), prostate adenocarcinoma (ACA), prostate TCC, prostate carcinoma (CA), and prostate tumors. A second query yielded all male dogs over the age of 4 years without a diagnosis of urinary tract cancer. These populations were compared to determine relative risks for developing each disease, singly and collectively, associated with neutering status. Odds ratios were calculated for breed as a risk factor. RESULTS Neutered males had a significantly increased risk for each form of cancer. Neutered males had an odds ratio of 3.56 (3.02–4.21) for urinary bladder TCC, 8.00 (5.60–11.42) for prostate TCC, 2.12 (1.80–2.49) for prostate adenocarcinoma, 3.86 (3.13–4.16) for prostate carcinoma, and 2.84 (2.57–3.14) for all prostate cancers. Relative risks were highly similar when cases were limited to those with a histologically confirmed diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Breed predisposition suggests that genetic factors play a role in the development of prostate cancer. The risk associated with being neutered is highest for TCC, supporting previous work identifying the urothelium and ductular rather than acinar epithelium as the source of these tumors. Prostate 67: 1174–1181, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.