Being overweight or obese increases a man’s risk of prostate cancer recurrence after radical surgery for prostate cancer, research shows.

“Obesity is not only a risk factor for known medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but also harbors the risk for unfavorable outcomes in cancer patients,” Dr. Ahmed Magheli from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, told Reuters Health.

Magheli, along with Dr. Mark L. Gonzalgo and colleagues investigated the significance of body weight as a predictor of “biochemical” prostate cancer recurrence - that is, recurrence identified by increasing levels of prostate-specific antigen or PSA, a biomarker for prostate cancer - among men undergoing radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate). The men were followed for an average of 4.5 years.

The investigators found that a higher body mass index was predicted a greater likelihood of rising PSA levels after surgery, indicating prostate cancer recurrence.

Compared with normal-weight men, the researchers note, overweight and obese men had lower 5- and 10-year biochemical recurrence-free survival rates and shorter times to biochemical recurrence after surgery.

“Obese patients may have an increased likelihood of needing additional treatment following surgery,” Magheli said. “Furthermore, obese patients should be followed-up more closely, “as currently recommended.”

It would be interesting to see, Magheli said, whether obese prostate cancer patients who have surgery to remove their prostate could reduce their risk of experiencing recurrent disease by losing weight.

SOURCE: Urology, December 2008.