Serum Trans-fatty acids are associated with risk of prostate cancer in β-carotene and retinol efficacy trial

Biomarkers of trans-fatty acid consumption have been associated with increased risks of breast and colon cancer, although no studies have examined their associations with prostate cancer risk. Using data from the β-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial, this nested case-control study examined the relationships between serum phospholipid trans -fatty acids and prostate cancer incidence in 272 case and 426 control men. Trans-fatty acids were measured using organic extraction followed by separations with TLC and gas chromatography. Adjusted odds ratios for risk of prostate cancer with increasing levels of trans-fatty acids were calculated using logistic regression. There were consistent trends for increasing prostate cancer risk with higher levels of C18 but not C16 trans-fatty acids, although only trends for Δ11t 18:1 trans-vaccenic and Δ9c,12t 18:2 fatty acids reached statistical significance. Odds ratios (95% confidence interval) contrasting low versus high quartiles for these fatty acids were 1.69 (1.03-2.77) and 1.79 (1.02-3.15), respectively. There were no consistent differences in associations between low-grade and high-grade cancer among the subset of 209 cases with information on tumor grade. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings and better control for factors, such as use of prostate-specific antigen screening, which may confound this association.