The complex interplay between cholesterol and prostate malignancy

Urol Clin North Am. 2011 Aug;38(3):243-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2011.04.001. Epub 2011 Jun 22.

Abstract

Research into the role of cholesterol and prostate disease has been ongoing for many years, but our mechanistic and translational understanding is still poor. Recent evidence indicates that cholesterol-lowering drugs reduce the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. This article reviews the literature on the relationship between circulating cholesterol and prostate cancer. The data strongly point to hypercholesterolemia as a risk factor for prostate cancer progression and suggest clinical opportunities for the use of cholesterol-lowering therapies to alter disease course.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Androgens / biosynthesis
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hypercholesterolemia / complications
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Pravastatin / therapeutic use
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Androgens
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Cholesterol
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • Pravastatin