Physical and demographic features of men before developing cancer of the prostate

SUMMARY-Physical and demographic characteristics of 268 men examined while in college, and who later died with cancer of the prostate, were compared to character-istics of 536 controls. Attention centered on features possibly influenced by hormonal factors before develop-ment of the cancer. The anthropometric indices of somatotype, gynandromorphy, androgyny, baldness, and pilosity were similar for the cases and the controls, as were a number of other body measurements. Of 197 married men with prostate cancer, 29 had no children as compared to 49 of 228 married controls (P=O.06). There were no significant differences in the proportion ever married, age at first marriage, age at first child, age at last child, occupation, or college or postgraduate activities.-J Natl Cancer Inst 53: 341-346,1974. CANCER of the prostate is responsible for = 38,000 new diagnoses each year in the United States (1). In 1968, 16,848 men died from this disease (2). Despite the high incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer, few epidemiologic studies have been con-ducted and data on the epidemiologic characteristics of men who develop prostate cancer are rudimentary. The influence of sex hormones on the development and function of the prostate gland, and their sus-pected influence on the growth rate of prostate cancer, may mean that factors reflecting hormonal status before the development of cancer can be used to dif-ferentiate risk groups. Physical characteristics are determined in part by sex hormones. This study was designed, therefore, to see if physical characteristics would indicate groups of men with different risks for prostate cancer. Data relating to marriage and father-hood, and various social and work-related activities, are also examined