Age-specific risk of incident prostate cancer & risk of death from Pr cancer defined by the number of affected family members

3 min

Background

Family history is a well-established risk factor for prostate cancer (PCa) although no high-risk genes have yet been identified. Some low-risk gene variants have been identified but are not used in clinical practice.

The detailed assessment of familial PCa risk is therefore important for clinical counselling and screening recommendations.

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the age-specific risks of PCa and the risk of death from PCa according to the number, type (father or brother) and the age of affected first-degree relatives using comprehensive population databases in Sweden.

Methods

Design, setting, and participants: The nationwide Swedish Family-Cancer Database includes a record of >11.8 million individuals and their cancers from 1958 to 2006.

All men from the database with identified parents (>3.9 million individuals) were followed between 1961 and 2006. The study included 26,651 PCa patients, of whom 5,623 were familial.

Measurements: The age-specific hazard ratios (HRs) of PCa and the HRs of death from PCa were calculated according to the number and age of affected fathers and brothers.

Results

The HRs for PCa diagnosis (compared to men with no family history) increased with the number of affected relatives (for example HR=2.9 for a man under 55 years of age with an affected father compared with HR=11.3 when there was an affected father and brother).

HRs decreased with increasing age (for example an affected brother was associated with HR=4.4 for a man under 55 years of age compared with 2.6 for men 65-74 years old).

The highest HRs were observed for men <65 yr of age with three affected brothers (HR ~ 23) and the lowest for men between 65 and 74 yr of age with an affected father (HR = 1.8).

The HRs increased with decreasing paternal or fraternal diagnostic age. The pattern of the risk of death from familial PCa was similar to that for PCa incidence.

Conclusion

The present results can help to guide clinical counselling, particularly with respect to PSA testing. The results demonstrate the greatly increased risk when multiple first-degree relatives are affected.

Also the increased risk conferred by family history is greater for younger men than older. A limitation of the study is that age-specific absolute risks are not reported.

More for health practitioners

We offer a range of evidence-based resources for health practitioners to develop their understanding of male health.


Did you find this page helpful?

Information provided on this website is not a substitute for medical advice

Call 000 for emergency services

If you or someone you know needs urgent medical attention.

Call MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 for 24/7 support

MensLine Australia is a telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns.

Sign up to our newsletter

We release two monthly newsletters – one written for men, family and friends, and another for health practitioners.

Your preferred mailing list

Your name

Your email

Stay up to date

FacebookInstagramLinkedinTwitterYoutubespotifytiktok

Healthy Male acknowledges the traditional owners of the land. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future. We are committed to providing respectful, inclusive services and work environments where all individuals feel accepted, safe, affirmed and celebrated. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Disclaimer

Healthy Male is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. This website does not host any form of advertisement. Information provided on this website is not a substitute for medical advice.

Trusted information partner of