Prostate Cancer: Epidemiology, Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Risk Factors

Prostate cancer is today the most common cancer in men in developed countries. The very high incidence of prostate cancer in the developed world differs significantly from the low incidence in Asia, especially in rural areas of China. The different incidences can be explained by ethnic and hereditary factors, dietary habits, exposure to sunlight, and different carcinogens. The main role of the prostate is the production of secretions that enable the nutrition and movement of spermatozoa. However, the prostate is a gland that produces important hormones, such as dihydrotestosterone and estrogens, which act as paracrine and intracrine factors. The concentration of sex hormones in the prostate tissue is significantly different in a healthy and diseased organ and significantly affects pathological processes in the prostate.