Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer - a case-control study

In a case-control study 192 patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer were compared with 210 men in whom carcinoma of the prostate had be en histologically excluded Cases and controls were recruited from two urolo gical practices in Hamburg and Frankfurt/M. and from the urologic policlini c at the University of Frankfurt/M. The probands were questioned about smok ing habits and alcohol consumption, about all occupational activities of le ast one years' duration, and about exposure to specific substances. Odds ra tios (OR) were calculated using logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, region and smoking. There were no differences between patients and co ntrols in self-reported occupational exposures or the consumption of alcoho l or smoking. There was a positive association between having worked in tra nsportation/communication and having prostate cancer (p for trend = 0.006): ORs varied according to the number of years worked as follows: 1-10 years versus never, OR = 0.6 (95% Cl: 0.3-1.2), 11-30 years, OR = 2.0 (95% Cl: 0. 8-4.8), >30 years OR = 3.2 (95% Cl: 1.3-7.5). Work in other occupational gr oups was not associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer. These r esults suggest that transport work may be associated with the development o f prostate cancer.