Alcohol and Prostate Cancer: Time to Draw Conclusions

The document "Alcohol and Prostate Cancer: Time to Draw Conclusions" reviews numerous studies on the link between alcohol consumption and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa). The authors found that moderate and heavy drinking is generally associated with an increased risk of developing PCa, regardless of the type of beverage. High alcohol intake, particularly binge drinking, may also accelerate the growth of prostate tumors and significantly shorten the time for the progression to metastatic PCa. The authors recommend that patients diagnosed with PCa should quit drinking alcohol immediately. The document also discusses the damaging effect of ethanol metabolites on intracellular organization and trafficking, and the impact of alcohol consumption on prostate-specific antigen level and the risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, some studies found a weak or no correlation between alcohol intake and risk of being diagnosed with PCa. The document also discusses the influence of alcohol consumption on Prostate Cancer (PCa) and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). It cites several studies, including a UK-based study of 2400 PCa cases and 12,700 controls, which found that heavy drinking could lower PSA levels and slightly increase the risk for more aggressive PCa. Another study of 212,039 men showed that low alcohol intake was associated with a lower likelihood of PSA testing. A meta-analysis of 19 studies (120,091 men) found that alcohol consumption is associated with a significantly or marginally significantly decreased likelihood of BPH. However, excessive alcohol consumption above the recommended threshold is associated with worse lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The document also discusses the effect of alcohol on Finasteride, a medication for male pattern hair loss and BPH. In the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), 18,882 men who received Finasteride or placebo were monitored for PCa prevalence over seven years. The study found Finasteride prevents or delays PCa occurrence, but the risk of high-grade PCa was increased in Finasteride-treated men. Heavy drinking was associated with an increased risk of total cancer, low-grade cancer, and high-grade cancer in the Finasteride group. The document concludes by discussing the cellular mechanisms of alcohol's effect on the progression of PCa, including its damaging effects on intracellular organization, transportation, and structure of organelles.