Weight and length at birth and risk of early-onset prostate cancer (United States)

Objective: A case-control study was conducted to examine the association of weight and length at birth with early-onset prostate cancer. Methods: Cases of prostate cancer diagnosed between 1988 and 1995 (n = 192) were identified through the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System. Two separate control groups were selected using driver's license (DL) and birth certificate (BC) listings. Results: Using the DL control group, an inverse association was observed between birth weight and prostate cancer risk; adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for less than or equal to3000, 3001-3500, 3501-4000, and > 4000 g at birth were 1.0, 0.72 (0.40-1.28), 0.58 (0.31-1.10), and 0.49 (0.24-1.00). In analyses using the BC control group, adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) for the aforementioned birth weight categories were 1.0, 1.18 (0.64-2.18), 0.80 (0.42-1.54), and 1.04 (0.48-2.26), respectively. For both control groups, adjusted odds ratios were somewhat elevated for the upper three categories of birth length, but all confidence intervals included the null value. Conclusions: These findings do not support the hypothesis that greater weight or length at birth increases risk of prostate cancer.