Could a common STI cause prostate cancer? Scientists discover infection makes men more vulnerable to the disease
- Researchers at the University of California have discovered a link between the STI trichomoniasis and the growth of cancer cells in the prostate
- Study found infection makes men more vulnerable to the disease
- But scientists and experts have called for more research to prove link
- Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral STI affecting millions
Prostate cancer could be a sexually transmitted disease caused by an infection passed on during intercourse, scientists have said.
Researchers at the University of California discovered a sexually transmitted infection called trichomoniasis helps the growth of cancer cells in human prostate cells, when grown in a laboratory.
But the team behind the discovery say more research is now needed to confirm the link
Researchers at the University of California have discovered that men infected with the sexually transmitted infection trichomoniasis are more susceptible to developing prostate cancer. The study found the infection encourages the growth of cancer cells in prostate cells (pictured under the microscope)
And experts at Cancer Research UK told the BBC that more clinical studies are needed before the disease can be added to the list of cancers caused by STIs.
Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection, affecting around 275 million people across the world.
Many people suffering the effects of the infection will have no symptoms.
For those that do, they develop after around a month and for women cause soreness and itching around the vagina as well as a change in vaginal discharge.
Infected men may feel itching or irritation in the penis, pain during urination as well as a white discharge from the penis.
In the new study, Professor Patricia Johnson found the parasite that causes trichomoniasis – Trichomonas vaginalis – secretes a protein that causes inflammation and increased growth and invasion of benign and cancerous prostate cells.
A study carried out in 2006 at Washington University discovered men infected with trichomoniasis have a 40 per cent greater chance of developing prostate cancer.
A study carried out in 2006 at Washington University discovered men infected with trichomoniasis have a 40 per cent greater chance of developing prostate cancer. The STI is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection, affecting around 275million people across the world each yea
Siobhan Sutcliffe, who led the research, urged caution at the time, adding the link she found was ‘not conclusive’ comparing the science to the early connections drawn between smoking and lung cancer.
Speaking at the time, she said: ‘It’s still in a really exploratory phase.’
A subsequent study found no connection between the STI and prostate cancer, while another at Havard University found an even greater likelihood of cancer in infected men than the 2006 study.
Research in 2009 discovered a quarter of men with prostate cancer showed signs of having been infected with the STI, and were also found to have more advanced tumours.
The new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, now suggests the infection might make men more vulnerable to developing prostate cancer, though does not provide proof of the link.
The team have called for more research to build on their work, to work towards proving the link.
Nicola Smith, health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘This study suggests a possible way the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis could encourage prostate cancer cells to grow and develop more quickly.
‘But the research was only done in the lab, and previous evidence in patients failed to show a clear link between prostate cancer and this common sexually transmitted infection.
‘There’s been a lot of research into prostate cancer risk and we’re working hard to piece together the puzzle.
‘But there are still no known lifestyle factors that seem to affect the risk of developing the disease – and no convincing evidence for a link with infection.’
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