Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2013 Mar;16(1):107-10. doi: 10.1038/pcan.2012.46. Epub 2012 Nov 13.
The ratio of the second to the fourth digit (2D:4D ratio) is a sexually dimorphic trait established in utero that differs between ethnic groups. It is associated with prenatal androgen exposure, and studies have evaluated the ratio as a marker for certain traits and disease states known to be associated with higher levels of in utero androgens, such as prostate cancer. There are currently no screening tools that stratify men with prostate cancer according to the severity of their disease. This study aims to investigate the 2D:4D ratio as a potential marker for prostate cancer severity. Our hypothesis was that lower digit ratios, representing higher in utero androgen exposure, would be associated with more severe disease.
Measurements were taken of the second and fourth digits of the right hand of male patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. Gleason score, presence of metastasis, family history, age at diagnosis and race were recorded. The distribution of demographic and other patient characteristics were compared with digit ratios to determine relationships.
African-American men with prostate cancer are 3.70 times more likely to have a low 2D:4D digit ratio than Caucasian men with prostate cancer (95% confidence interval: 1.98, 6.92; P < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences in the presence of metastasis, Gleason score, family history or age at diagnosis by digit ratio.
2D:4D ratio shows strong differences between African-Americans and Caucasians; however, it does not correlate with disease severity in men already diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although this is a small population sample with possible confounding factors, it does not provide evidence to support the hypothesis that prenatal androgens affect prostate cancer grade or progression.
第二和第四指骨的比率（2D:4D 比率）是一种在子宫内建立的性别二态性特征，在不同种族之间存在差异。它与产前雄激素暴露有关，研究已经评估了该比率作为某些与更高水平的宫内雄激素相关的特征和疾病状态的标志物，例如前列腺癌。目前没有筛选工具可以根据疾病的严重程度对患有前列腺癌的男性进行分层。本研究旨在探讨 2D:4D 比率作为前列腺癌严重程度的潜在标志物。我们的假设是，较低的指比率，代表更高的宫内雄激素暴露，与更严重的疾病相关。
测量了被诊断患有前列腺癌的男性右手的第二和第四指骨。记录了 Gleason 评分、是否存在转移、家族史、诊断时的年龄和种族。比较了人口统计学和其他患者特征的分布与指比率，以确定它们之间的关系。
患有前列腺癌的非洲裔美国男性比患有前列腺癌的白人男性更有可能出现低 2D:4D 指比率，其可能性是白人男性的 3.70 倍（95%置信区间：1.98，6.92；P < 0.0001）。指比率与转移的存在、Gleason 评分、家族史或诊断时的年龄之间没有统计学上的显著差异。
2D:4D 比率在非洲裔美国人和白人间存在显著差异；然而，它与已经被诊断患有前列腺癌的男性的疾病严重程度无关。尽管这是一个具有潜在混杂因素的小人群样本，但它没有提供证据支持产前雄激素影响前列腺癌分级或进展的假设。
