Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Recent advances in cancer research have highlighted the role of genetics in malignancy. Genetic dysregulation of core cellular functions similarly influences benign conditions. These common genetic factors have led researchers to identify an association between certain urologic conditions and malignancy. The objective of this review is to evaluate the literature linking benign urologic conditions including male infertility, Peyronie's disease, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias, to malignancy. METHODS: A search of PubMed was performed using the following search terms and their combinations: male infertility, female infertility, cancer, malignancy, mortality, male urologic conditions, azoospermia, Peyronie's disease, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and genetics. Studies were assessed for quality and included or excluded based on study design and relevance to the topic of urologic conditions and malignancy. RESULTS: A total of 52 studies were evaluated, of which 38 were included. Associations between male infertility and testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and other cancers including melanoma, bladder cancer, and thyroid cancer were examined. Several genetic alterations were found to be common in the pathogenesis of both male infertility and carcinogenesis. Associations between female infertility and breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer are also assessed, as are the relationships between Peyronie's disease, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias and malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Recent work has identified associations between a number of malignancies and benign urologic conditions including male infertility, Peyronie's disease, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias. Molecular and genetic mechanisms have been proposed, but no definitive causal relationships have been identified to date. Future work will continue to better define the links between malignancy and benign urologic conditions and ultimately facilitate risk stratification, screening, and treatment of affected men.