Prostate Cancer and Environmental Exposure: A Focus on Heavy Metals and Pesticides

Prostate Cancer: Epidemiology And Risk Factors

Adenocarcinoma of prostate or prostate cancer (PC) is a masculine pathology specific of elderly people, with about 9.7% of total male cancers and approximately (Ferlay, et al. 2015).

The incidence of PC is still variable. In fact, in developed countries it reaches 15.3%, while in the underdeveloped world it accounts only for 4.3% only (table 1) (Parkin, Bray, & Devesa, 2001). In US, PC is considered as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the second most common cause of death after lung cancer (Parkin, Bray, & Devesa, 2001).

PC is a particular pathology with different etiologies and risk factors, including age, ethnicity, family history, diet, obesity, sexual behavior and sexually transmitted diseases, occupation and smoking. Indeed, PC is affecting elderly men especially with 6 /10 cases diagnosed at the age of 65 years or later. Generally, the average age at the time of PC diagnosis is 66 years (Desantis, Siegel, & Jemal, 2014). While according to the race and ethnicity, studies showed that African-Americans population presents the highest rate of PC incidence in the world (Table 1). (see Bashir, 2015).