Background: The association between nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and prostate cancer risk remains controversial.
We examined the risk among NSAID users in 78 615 men in the Finnish Prostate Cancer Screening Trial.
Methods: We obtained information on NSAID prescription usage from Finnish nationwide prescription database and on over-the-counter use by a questionnaire. Prostate cancer cases were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry.
Results: Prostate cancer risk was elevated among current NSAID prescription users irrespective of screening (hazard ratio (HR)=1.45, confidence interval (95% CI)=1.33-1.59 and HR=1.71, 95% CI=1.58-1.86 in the screening and control arm, respectively), but not for previous use of NSAIDs. The risk increase was similar among coxib and acetaminophen current users, and stronger for metastatic prostate cancer (HR=2.41, 95% CI=1.59-3.67 and HR=3.44, 95% CI=2.60-4.55 in the screening and control arm, respectively). Previous use of NSAIDs, aspirin use and over-the-counter NSAID usage were not associated with prostate cancer.
Conclusions: Differing association for current and previous use suggests that the risk increase is unlikely to be directly caused by the medication, but may be due to the conditions indicating NSAID prescription usage, such as symptoms of undiagnosed prostate cancer. To reduce inconsistency between the study outcomes, future epidemiological studies on NSAID use and prostate cancer risk should assess the indications for NSAID usage.
Written by:
Veitonmäki T, Murtola TJ, Määttänen L, Taari K, Stenman UH, Tammela TL, Auvinen A. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie 35, 33521 Tampere, Finland; School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Medisiinarinkatu 3, 33520 Tampere, Finland; School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Lääkärinkatu 1, 33520 Tampere, Finland; Finnish Cancer Registry, Pieni Roobertinkatu 9, 00130 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Sairaalakatu 1, 01400 Vantaa, Finland; School of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Tukholmankatu 8 B, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
Reference: Br J Cancer. 2014 Jul 10. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.381
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25010865
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