New concepts in tissue specificity for prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Of the hundreds of species of mammals, all of which have prostate glands, o nly humans and dogs are known to suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH) and prostate carcinoma. In humans, prostate carcinoma is common, yet c arcinomas of other sex accessory tissues are rare. In addition, different a natomic regions within the prostate gland have very different rates of BPH and carcinoma. In this article, we explore ideas and potential mechanisms r elating to these paradoxical findings that may help explain the species, or gan, and zone specificity of BPH and prostate cancer. We present an evoluti onary argument that attempts to relate a high-fat diet, with its potential for generating oxidative DNA damage, to the species selectivity of prostate cancer. In addition, we outline an argument based on our preliminary studi es indicating that chronic inflammation and the associated increase in cell turnover in the setting of increased oxidative stress may help to account for the organ selectivity of genitourinary carcinomas. (C) 1999, Elsevier S cience Inc. All rights reserved.