Parkinson's, Two Cancers May Be Tied Genetically

Men with Parkinson's disease had a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer and melanoma, according to analyses of two large databases.

Action Points

  • Explain that a population-based pedigree study from Utah found a reciprocal relationship between Parkinson's disease (PD) and prostate cancer -- an increased risk for prostate cancer among cases dying from PD and their relatives as well as increased risk for PD among relatives of those with prostate cancer.
  • Note that the same reciprocal relationship was demonstrated for melanoma, while colorectal, lung/bronchus, stomach, and pancreas cancer occurred less frequently than predicted for patients with PD.


The prostate cancer excess ranged from 71% to 8%, declining as a relative's degree of separation from a proband increased. Analysis of prostate cancer cases showed an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, which ranged from 39% to 8%, depending on a relative's genetic distance from the primary case.











The relative risk of death with Parkinson's disease was 1.65 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.19), and the risk of Parkinson's disease death remained significant among all relatives of individuals who had melanoma diagnoses.

Investigators estimated the relative risk of 35 additional types of cancer among the 2,998 people who died of Parkinson's disease. Prostate cancer emerged as the only cancer with a significant relationship to Parkinson's. The analysis identified 212 cases of prostate cancer, whereas 124.1 would have been expected (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.49 to 1.96, P<0.01).


The result was a statistically significant 39% increased risk of Parkinson's disease (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.59). The association remained significant in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives.


The findings add to existing evidence of common underlying causes for Parkinson's disease and certain types of cancer, the author of an accompanying editorial wrote. Because the strength of the associations decreased -- but remained significant -- as genetic distance increased, "the associations are more likely mediated by shared genetic factors than by shared environmental factors."




The study was supported by the Utah Cancer Registry, the Utah State Department of Health, and the University of Utah.

Cannon-Albright disclosed relationships with the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and the National Cancer Institute. One or more co-authors disclosed relationships with the Noorda Foundation, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and Athena Diagnostics.

Rocca had no disclosures.

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