The huge communities of microorganisms that symbiotically colonize humans are recognized as significant players in health and disease. The human microbiome may influence prostate cancer development. To date, several studies have focused on the effect of prostate infections as well as the composition of the human microbiome in relation to prostate cancer risk. Current studies suggest that the microbiota of men with prostate cancer significantly differs from that of healthy men, demonstrating that certain bacteria could be associated with cancer development as well as altered responses to treatment. In healthy individuals, the microbiome plays a crucial role in the maintenance of homeostasis of body metabolism. Dysbiosis may contribute to the emergence of health problems, including malignancy through affecting systemic immune responses and creating systemic inflammation, and changing serum hormone levels. In this review, we discuss recent data about how the microbes colonizing different parts of the human body including urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity, and skin might affect the risk of developing prostate cancer. Furthermore, we discuss strategies to target the microbiome for risk assessment, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer.
Bacteria ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; Male ; Microbiota ; Prostatic Neoplasms/prevention & control*

Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal estrogens widely distributed in many kinds of plants. They are natural compounds structurally similar to estrogen and with estrogenic or anti-androgenic activities. Prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are androgen-dependent and associated with age. Recently, in many epidemiological and experimental researches, it has been reported that phytoestrogens play a role in the prevention and treatment of PCa and BPH. Regulation of sexual hormones, inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of cell apoptosis and anti-oxidation of such plant estrogens may be involved in the mechanisms.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar

With the approaching of the aged society, the number of patients with BPH and those with prostate cancer is increasing, particularly the latter. As the gold standard for the treatment of the two diseases, prostate surgery falls into various types, each with its own characteristics in postoperative recovery of sexual function. In the past few years, the traditional laparotomy procedure has been gradually replaced by the laparoscopic technique. Doctors and patients are not merely satisfied with the improvement of micturition function any longer; they are beginning to pay more attention to the pre- and post-operative sexual function. This paper gives an overview of the influence of various types of prostatectomy on male sexual function.
Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Prostatectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery

Prostaglandin synthase (PGS) can catalyze the production of various types of prostaglandins and regulate the expression levels of related substances. The regulation mechanisms of the PGS gene are closely related with the occurrence and development of prostate diseases. However, few studies are reported on the regulation mechanisms of PGS in prostatic diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa), or on the relationship between PGS gene regulation and prostate diseases. This review aims to analyze their correlation and provide some ideas for the prevention and control of BPH and PCa by intervention of the prostaglandin synthase regulatory pathway.
Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; genetics ; physiology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; enzymology ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; prevention & control

Prostate cancer is one of the most common visceral malignancies in human. In recent years, its incidence has dramatically increased in China. 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors can block the biological effects of dihydrotestosterone by restraining the transformation from testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, and therefore can be used for the chemoprevention of prostate cancer. Two large clinical trials on the chemoprevention of prostate cancer (the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial and the Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events) were completed in 2003 and 2008, respectively, bringing the global interests on this topic. However, the interpretations of these two trials and the possible recommendations on clinical applications remain controversial.
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Chemoprevention ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; prevention & control

5-alpha reductase inhibitors decrease the level of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase. Trials on 5-alpha reductase inhibitors in prostate cancer prevention showed that they could significantly decrease the incidence of prostate cancer, but meanwhile increase high-grade cases as well. Recent studies demonstrated that 5-alpha reductase inhibitors could reduce not only the prostate volume but also the volume of Gleason grade 3 prostate cancer, which made easier the detection of higher-grade prostate cancer in the second biopsy. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors could also increase the sensitivity of prostate biopsy in detecting prostate cancer, particularly that of a higher grade. The evidence we have obtained leads to the conclusion that 5-alpha reductase inhibitors do not increase the incidence of high-grade prostate cancer, but on the contrary help its earlier detection.
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this review is to discuss some critical issues of isoflavones protective against the development of prostate cancer (PCa).

DATA SOURCESData cited in this review were obtained primarily from PubMed and Embase from 1975 to 2015.

STUDY SELECTIONArticles were selected with the search terms "isoflavone", "Phytoestrogen", "soy", "genistin", and "PCa ".

RESULTSIsoflavones do not play an important role on prostate-specific antigen levels reduction in PCa patients or healthy men. The effect of isoflavones on sex hormone levels and PCa risk may be determined by equol converting bacteria in the intestine, specific polymorphic variation and concentrations of isoflavones. The intake of various types of phytoestrogens with lower concentrations in the daily diet may produce synergistic effects against PCa. Moreover, prostate tissue may concentrate isoflavones to potentially anti-carcinogenic levels. In addition, it is noteworthy that isoflavones may act as an agonist in PCa.

CONCLUSIONSIsoflavones play a protective role against the development of PCa. However, careful consideration should be given when isoflavones are used in the prevention and treatment of PCa.

Humans ; Isoflavones ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phytoestrogens ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of ONO-AE3-208, an EP4 antagonist, on the formation of bone metastasis from prostate cancer in mice.

METHODSThirty-four 6-week old nude mice were divided into an experimental and a control group of equal number to be treated by intraperitoneal injection of ONO-AE3-208 and double distilled water, respectively. Then PC3/LUC cells were constructed by stably transfecting luciferin to prostate cancer PC3 cells and inoculated into the left ventricle of the mice to establish an animal model of systemic bone metastasis. The time of metastasis formation, photon tumor burdens, and changes of the survival curves after modeling were compared between the two groups of mice.

RESULTSAt 30 days after modeling, bioluminescence imaging analysis showed that the photon tumor burdens were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner in the control group in comparison with those in the experimental group (P < 0.01). The rate of metastasis formation was significantly higher in the former than in the latter (93.3% vs 33.3%, P < 0.001). The median time of metastasis formation was 29 d (95% CI 26.547 - 35.262) in the experimental animals as compared with 21 d (95% CI 17.213 -24.787) in the controls (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONEP4 antagonist ONO-AE3-208 can inhibit the formation of bone metastasis from prostate cancer in mice.

Animals ; Bone Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; secondary ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Naphthalenes ; pharmacology ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; prevention & control ; Phenylbutyrates ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer are being improved due to the popularized screening of prostate specific antigen. Advanced prostate cancer, in spite of its response to androgen deprivation therapy, may finally develop into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and shorten the overall survival of the patients. Many efforts have been made by worldwide researchers for new approaches to the management of CRPC, including new hormonal therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and bone metastasis-targeted therapy. This paper reviews the emerging agents undergoing clinical evaluation and drugs that have received approval for the treatment of CRPC in order to provide doctors and patients with more treatment options for CRPC and improve the overall survival rate and quality of life of the patients.
Androgen Antagonists ; Bone Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; therapy ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines in the treatment of prostate cancer, and investigate the factors that influence the clinical benefit rate (CBR) of the vaccines.

METHODSBased on pre-determined search criteria, we searched the Medline database for randomized controlled trials on DC-based vaccines immunotherapy of prostate cancer. We systematically analyzed the identified studies using RevMan 5.0 and SPSS 17.0 softwares.

RESULTSTen randomized controlled trials involving 179 prostate cancer patients were identified and subjected to meta-analysis. The CBR of the DC vaccines for prostate cancer was 54.2% , and the objective response rate was 7.7%. Most adverse effects were local reactions at the injection site, fever and flu-like symptoms. The prostate cancer patients achieved cellular immune response (OR = 31.12, 95% CI = 5.52-175.6, P < 0.01) and reduction of log PSA slope (OR = 4.38, 95% CI = 1.17-16.35, P = 0.03) after administration of DC vaccines, which was positively correlated with CBR. The dose of DC vaccines had a significant correlation with CBR (OR = 5.98, 95% CI = 1.45-24.62, P = 0.01), but not the age of the patients (P = 0.53). Besides, density-enriched DCs achieved a higher CBR, while the route of administration had no effect on CBR.

CONCLUSIONDC-based vaccines are effective, safe and well-tolerated in the treatment of prostate cancer. DC-mediated cellular immune response has a significant effect on CBR and can be used as an important index for the assessment of vaccines. More multi-centered randomized controlled trials of higher quality and larger sample size are needed to provide more valid evidence.

Cancer Vaccines ; adverse effects ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic