A growing number of recent epidemiological studies have suggested that there is an association of some prostate cancer cases with infectious processes. Most notably, the link has been made with various sexually transmitted viral or bacterial pathogens including some types of human papilloma and herpes viruses, Trichomonas vaginalis, syphilis, gonorrhea and others. Some investigators suggest that men who report having 25 or more sexual partners are almost three times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer compared with men who have had five or fewer partners. We think the cause is related to inflammation of the prostate, or prostatitis, which can lead to increased risks of prostate cancer development and progression.
The question is, will these findings lead to the use of antimicrobial drugs to prevent prostate cancer? This subject is still somewhat controversial and we don’t yet have any definitive answers. More research in this area will be needed before we can formulate any clear management strategies using such agents for prostate cancer.
