**1. Introduction**

20 Prostate Cancer – Diagnostic and Therapeutic Advances

Woodson, K.; O'Reilly, K.J.; Hanson, J.C.; Nelson, D.; Walk, E.L.& Tangrea, J.A. (2008). The

Zehentner, B.K.; Secrist, H.; Zhang, X.; Hayes, D.C.; Ostenson, R.; Goodman, G.; Xu, J.;

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usefulness of the detection of GSTP1 methylation in urine as a biomarker in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. *J Urol*, Vol.179, No.2, (Feb), pp.508-511; discussion 511-

Kiviat, M.; Kiviat, N.; Persing, D.H.& Houghton, R.L. (2006). Detection of alphamethylacyl-coenzyme-A racemase transcripts in blood and urine samples of prostate cancer patients. *Mol Diagn Ther*, Vol.10, No.6, pp.397-403, ISSN 1177-1062 Zhao, Z.; Ma, W.; Zeng, G.; Qi, D.; Ou, L.& Liang, Y. (2011). Serum Early Prostate Cancer

Antigen (EPCA) Level and Its Association with Disease Progression in Prostate Cancer in a Chinese Population. *PLoS One*, Vol.6, No.5, pp.e19284, ISSN 1932-6203 Zhao, Z.& Zeng, G. (2010). Increased serum level of early prostate cancer antigen is

associated with subsequent cancer risk in men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. *Endocr Relat Cancer*, Vol.17, No.2, (Jun), pp.505-512, ISSN

prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia: implications for the development of prostate

prostate cancer tissues and its potential role in prostate carcinogenesis and progression of prostate cancer. *World J Surg Oncol*, Vol.2, pp.13, ISSN 1477-7819 Zielie, P.J.; Mobley, J.A.; Ebb, R.G.; Jiang, Z.; Blute, R.D.& Ho, S.M. (2004). A novel

diagnostic test for prostate cancer emerges from the determination of alphamethylacyl-coenzyme a racemase in prostatic secretions. *J Urol*, Vol.172, No.3,

Zhigang, Z.& Wenlu, S. (2007). Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) mRNA expression in

cancer. *Prostate*, Vol.67, No.11, (Aug 1), pp.1143-1151, ISSN 0270-4137 Zhigang, Z.& Wenlv, S. (2004). Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) expression in human To date there were only a few risk factors for developing prostate cancer (Pca) like advanced age, skin color and family history (Crawford, 2003). For the long time obesity was considered a negative feature which may contribute to chronic diseases like hypertension or diabetes, but its relationship with cancers was unknown. Last years revealed the obvious truth that such relationship exists and may be very strong. The problem seems to be very important given that obesity is very common, especially in western countries.

Over the past 25 years, the number of obese men has increased from 15% to 30% in USA. In 2000 66% of adults in U.S were classified as overweight or obese (Flegal et al., 2002) Nowadays no one denies that overweight and obesity is an independent risk factor for developing colon cancer or post-menopausal breast cancer.

Relationship with other cancers is still discussed especially in case of Pca. While the connection between obesity and chronic internal diseases is simple to explain, its relation to cancers is not so unequivocal. Most theories indicate the permanent chronic inflammation in obese which may contribute to oncogenesis.

Dishormonose observed in obese consists of high levels of insulin, insulin growth factor – 1 (IGF-1) (Chan et al., 1998, 2002), leptin, estrogens, and low levels of androgens. Insulin and IGF -1 are strong mitosis activators which may explain such "oncopotential". On the other hand low levels of testosterone and high of estrogen should protect men from developing Pca. It is only a simple example why the relation between obesity and prostate cancer may be very complex.
