Occupational Benzene Exposure and Risk of Male Genital Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Benzene is an established Group 1 carcinogen due to its leukemogenic properties. Recent studies suggest that occupational benzene exposure may be associated with solid cancers. However, little is known about its association with male genital cancers. We aimed to summarize the scientific evidence on occupational benzene exposure and the risk of male genital cancers.

Methods

We searched for relevant articles in three electronic databases. Methodological quality and the certainty of evidence were evaluated using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment tool. We performed pooled and stratified meta-analyses, as well as meta-regressions to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results

Thirty-one publications were included. Pooled results of incidence and mortality for prostate and testis cancer did not indicate a significant association with occupational benzene exposure. A borderline association was found for the incidence of prostate cancer (standardized incidence ratio (SIR): 1.07, 95% CI 0.97–1.19). Subgroup analyses stratified by study design and study quality revealed significant heterogeneity, with case-control (relative risk (RR): 1.19, 95% CI 1.04–1.36) and high-quality studies (RR: 1.22, 95% CI 1.14–1.31) showing an increased risk. Both NOS and GRADE assessments yielded mostly low to very low-quality results.

Conclusions

This review provides no clear evidence of an association between occupational exposure to benzene and the risk of male genital cancers. Subgroup analysis suggests an increased risk of prostate cancer in high-quality studies. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge the methodological limitations of the available studies. Further analyses including methodologically sound studies are needed to corroborate these findings.