Aruna V. Sarma, PhD¹, Julie C. McLaughlin, MS, MPH², Rodney Dunn, MS², John T. Wei, MD³, James E. Montie, MD⁴, David Schottenfeld, MD⁵, and Kathleen A. Cooney, MD⁶. (1) Urology, Epidemiology, University of Michigan, 1016 Women's Trailer, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (2) Urology, University of Michigan, 1016 Women's Trailer, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-663-7428, juliecm@med.umich.edu, (3) Department of Surgery/Urology, The University of Michigan, 2916 Taubman Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0330, (4) Urology Surgery, University of Michigan, 2916 TC, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (5) Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, (6) Internal Medicine and Veterans Health Administration, University of Michigan, 7310 CCGC, Box 0946, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

African-American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer more often than whites, tend to present with more advanced disease, and have worse stage-specific survival. Sexual behavior and history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may be related to disease risk. We examined the associations between sexual activity and STDs and prostate cancer in a population-based case-control study of 832 African-American men aged 40-79 using data from the Flint Men’s Health Study. We found that men reporting more than 25 sexual partners were 3.07 [95% confidence interval (CI) (1.52, 6.20)]times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer compared to men with 5 or fewer partners, adjusted for age. Furthermore, men who reported engaging in sex 2-3 times a month or 2-3 times a week had increased age-adjusted odds of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, [OR 2.09 (1.05, 4.14) and 2.71 (1.33, 5.51)], respectively, compared to men who had not engaged in sexual activity in the past 12 months. A history of gonorrhea increased the age-adjusted odds of developing prostate cancer 1.55 (1.03, 2.33)fold, and having gonorrhea more than once further increased the risk [OR 1.65 (1.02, 2.67)]. In multivariate analyses history of gonorrhea was a significant predictor of developing prostate cancer in African-American men. These data suggest that a history of gonorrhea is associated with development of prostate cancer in African-American men. Potential mechanisms may include inflammatory mediators that respond to urethral colonization by gonorrhea. Further evaluations are necessary to support these findings.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• describe sexual behaviors that may increase a man's risk of prostate cancer
• recognize that sexually transmitted diseases may play a role in the etiology of prostate cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.