Abstract B63: Occupational risk factors for high aggressive prostate cancer in a population-based study of African Americans and European Americans
Authors: Sun Wendy , Fontham Elizabeth TH , Bensen Jeanette T. , Mohler James L. 
Published: May 2019

Background: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the North American males. Many industrial and occupational exposures have been studied. However, the results are generally inconclusive. It has been suggested that whole body vibration experienced among heavy equipment and transport equipment operators, construction workers, and transportation laborers may increase risk of prostate cancer. Other studies have suggested that pesticide exposure in farming and landscaping may be associated with risk of prostate cancer. No study has reported on occupational risk associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness, which may be more important since most prostate cancer is indolent.

Methods: Data from 1049 African-American (AA) and 1083 European-American (EA) newly-diagnosed prostate cancer research subjects from the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP) were used to assess the association between occupational history and prostate cancer aggressiveness. Research subjects were interviewed regarding their most recent job at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis, the two positions held for the longest period of time during their working life, and whether they had ever worked more than 6 months as a landscaper, at a garden shop, as an animal caretaker, or as an exterminator. Men were classified as cases (high aggressiveness) if Gleason sum ≥8, or PSA &gt;20 ng/ml, or Gleason sum ≥7 AND clinical stage = T3/T4. All other men constituted the comparison group (low or intermediate aggressiveness). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated for high aggressive prostate cancer and occupational history.

Results: Using employment as an educator as the reference category, men who reported working as a truck driver as their longest job were more likely to have high aggressive prostate cancer at diagnosis (OR=3.96, 95%CI=1.02, 15.46). This study found that men employed for at least six months at garden shop were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with high aggressive prostate cancer (OR=2.33, 95%CI=1.21, 4.45); while working as a landscaper, animal caretaker, or exterminator did not appear to be associated with high aggressive prostate cancer.

Conclusions: Men employed as a truck driver or at a garden shop for at least six months are more likely to have high aggressive prostate cancer at diagnosis. Previous studies have found that long-term exposure to whole body vibration in truckers can result in prostatitis and elevated testosterone. Pesticide storage at a garden center may affect indoor air quality. This research provides clinical evidence that suggests certain occupations may have higher risk for aggressive prostate cancer.

Citation Format: L. Joseph Su, Wendy Sun, Elizabeth TH Fontham, Jeanette T. Bensen, James L. Mohler. Occupational risk factors for high aggressive prostate cancer in a population-based study of African Americans and European Americans. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2013 Oct 27-30; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2013;6(11 Suppl): Abstract nr B63.