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 ≤3000, 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.