Obesity could affect prostate cancer screening

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Men who are obese have lower levels of prostate specific antigen which could confuse the results of screening for cancer.
Studies are underway to evaluate the use of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test as an early warning sign of prostate cancer. A team at the University of Texas now warns that obesity can be a confounding factor in such screening.

We already know that obesity is, in itself, a risk factor for prostate cancer. Obese men tend to be diagnosed at a later stage and have a poorer outcome. The researchers looked at the link between body mass index (BMI) and PSA in a group of nearly 3,000 men without prostate cancer. As BMI went up, PSA levels went down. It may be that obese men get a 'false negative' when they attend for screening, which may delay diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Source
Cancer online 24th January 2005 (print 1st March 2005)

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