ITWire

The article that summarizes the Greek researchers work is entitled “Occupational physical activity in relation with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.” It is published in the August 2008 issue of the European Journal of Cancer Prevention (17(4): 336-339).

The authors of the article are Areti Lagiou; Evi Samoli; Christina Georgila; Ploumi Minaki; Anastasia Barbouni; Anastasia Tzonou; Dimitrios Trichopoulos; and Pagona Lagiou, all associated with the University of Athens, Greece.

The Greek researchers, led by Pagona Lagiou, used data from two studies, which were conducted between 1994 and 1997. They examined the relationship between the level of occupational physical activity (from sedate to rigorous activity) and the risk of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Dr. Lagiou is an adjunct associate professor of epidemiology (Department of Epidemiology) at Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.; associate professor of hygiene and epidemiology at the University of Athens Medical School, Greece; and adjunct associate professor of epidermiology at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

BPH is defined as the benign enlargement of the prostate (BEP), which is a non-life-threatening (benign) condition (that often requires surgery) where the prostate increases in size especially in middle-aged and elderly men, making it difficult to urinate. The prostate only effects men because it is part of the male reproductive system.

The Greek researchers studied 320 patients with “histological confirmed incident prostate cancer” and 184 patients with “surgically treated PHP,” as stated within the abstract to their paper. In addition, 246 patients, who were hospitalized for minor conditions, were used as a control group.

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