Prostate cancer and the metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome is defined by a cluster of metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including insulin resistance, central obesity, and dyslipidemia. Its prevalence is increasing, coincident with the worldwide epidemics of obesity and type II diabetes. At the same time, the incidence of prostate cancer has increased, as identified by (or resulting from) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. The use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the treatment of prostate cancer has also become more common in recent years, and its use has been associated with development of the metabolic syndrome. The possibility that treatment of the disease with ADT could increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular consequences highlights the need for careful consideration of patients' baseline health status and the use of strategies aimed at ameliorating outcomes in the long term. In this chapter, the possible interrelationships between prostate cancer and the metabolic syndrome are explored.