ICARE Newsletter Summer 2014

Is There a Higher Risk of Prostate Cancer in Individuals with Lynch Syndrome?

Over the last few years, there have been studies to suggest that men with Lynch Syndrome may have a higher risk for developing prostate cancer.1,2,3,4,5 The results of these studies have differed as to whether there is an association with an aggressive form of disease. For example, some studies report the risk of developing prostate cancer as high as 30% by age 70 with detection of aggressive tumors with a Gleason score of 8 or higher.3 In contrast, a more recent study suggested a nearly 5-fold increased risk of developing prostate cancer, but these cancers did not appear to occur at an early age nor were they more likely to be the aggressive subtype.4 Another study found an increased prostate cancer risk, but it was specific to men with MSH2 mutations,5 similar to findings of a 10-fold increased risk of prostate cancer in MSH2 carriers reported in yet another study.1

Further studies to clarify the risks of and outcomes from prostate cancer are needed, as the data on prostate cancer risk in men with Lynch Syndrome remain preliminary. Consequently, the 2014 national practice guidelines available through NCCN do not include prostate in the Lynch Syndrome-associated cancers.6

1. Barrow PJ et al. Fam Cancer. 2013 Mar;12(1):57-63. PMID: 23054215.2. Watson P ,et al. Fam Cancer.2005;4(3):245-8. PMID: 16136385.3. Grindedal EM, et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Sep;18(9):2460-7. PMID: 19723918.4. Haraldsdottir S, et al. Genet Med. 2014 Jan 16. PMID: 24434690.5. Engel C, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Dec 10;30(35):4409-15. PMID: 23091106.6. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.  Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal Cancer. Version 2.2014

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