The influence of lipid metabolism on prostate cancer development and progression: is it time for a closer look?

In December 2006 the BBC in London ran a major news article reporting the prediction by the research organisation, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) that soaring obesity levels would inevitably lead to a significant increase in ‘‘weight related’’ cancers [1]. The prediction was that there would be a 14% increase in obesity by 2010 and that this would cause an increase of 1500 extra cancers per year in a population of 60 million. Whilst this report relates to the UK, it is a reflection of a pan-European problem which, in turn, follows in the footsteps of the obesity related issues reported widely in North America. This is a problem which affects a number of cancers (eg renal cancer) but it is particularly manifest in endocrine cancers such as those arising in the breast and prostate. There is a gathering body of research in this field but notwithstanding this, our knowledge of the inter-relationship between lipid and cancer and particularly prostate cancer development and progression is poor. This review article by Mistry et al is therefore timely, as it will help to stimulate the urological clinical and scientific community to think a little more carefully about research in this area [2]. The authors concentrate much of their effort in this review on 4 ‘‘adipokines’’ and in particular, on the potential inter-relation between 2 specific ones: leptin (stimulatory when high) and adiponectin (inhibitory when high). This is an interesting focus for study as the influence of these adipokines in