人类指长比与前列腺癌关系的研究进展

Research progress of Digit Ratio (2D-4D) and prostate cancer

指长比(2D∶4D)即食指与无名指长度之比,具有性别差异,是围产期激素水平的一个重要指标。围产期激素活动会影响个体发育过程中某些心理、行为学特征及某些心血管疾病。近来2D∶4D与某些疾病患病率等之间的研究逐步成为热点。在此讨论2D∶4D与激素依赖疾病的研究,特别是2D∶4D与前列腺癌其关系的研究同样适用于其他疾病。

Digit ratio （2D ： 4D） denotes the relative length of the 2nd and 4th digits. The ratio is considered to be a proxy marker for prenatal exposure and sensitivity to sexual hormones, which can be genetically influenced. The influence of prenatal hormone exposure can reflect on psychological traits, athletic performance and diseases such as cardiovascular. Recently there has been a great deal of interest in 2D： 4D and risk of disease in adulthood. Here we briefly discussed the rationale behind the use of 2D ： 4D in studies of hormone-related diseases in later life-with particular regard to cancers of the prostate. Though the focus of this article was on prostate cancer, the rationale presented applied equally to other diseases.