An observational study of cancers among female partners of UK-resident prostate cancer patients

• Published in: Cancer letters 2006-10, Vol.242 (1), p.88-94
• Main Authors: Ragavan, Narasimhan, Grover, Philip L., Balasubramanian, Sabapathy P., Hindley, Andrew C., Matanhelia, Shyam S., Martin, Francis L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast cancer; Cardiovascular disease; Cohort Studies; Cumulative expected probability; Diabetes; Environmental Exposure; Family Health; Family medical history; Female; Females; Health risk assessment; Heart attacks; Humans; Lifestyles; Male; Males; Men; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Mutation; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - etiology; NorthWest England; Observed rates; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - etiology; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Questionnaires; Shared environmental exposures; Smoking; Surveys and Questionnaires; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.10.038

Epidemiological studies suggest that environment plays an important role in the aetiology of cancer. Thus, if a cancer (e.g. prostate cancer (CaP)) arises in males, one could hypothesize that risk in co-habiting partners might be elevated. We conducted an observational-questionnaire study in NorthWest England evaluating the medical histories of CaP males and their female partners. Details regarding previous partners (>10y) were also sought. Self-filled questionnaires were obtained from 548 males, 81 of whom provided information on previous female partners (PFPs) and 448 current female partners (CFPs). Observed rates over a 30-y period (1971–2001) of common cancers (breast, colorectal or lung) in female partners and colorectal cancer in males were compared to the cumulative expected probability (estimated using crude incidence rates for England provided by the Office of National Statistics, UK) using a Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit test. Colorectal cancers in males were similar to national estimates. Rates for breast, colorectal or lung cancer among CFPs and the total female cohort (CFPs plus PFPs) were also similar to estimates. However, observed rates for breast or lung cancers among PFPs were significantly (P≤0.001) elevated. Our results suggest no evidence of elevated risk among female partners of CaP males.