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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0World Journal of Surgical Oncology

Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with prostate cancer risk and prognosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Haobo Cao1
  • Sike He1
  • Bo Li2,3,4,5
  • Ning Luo2,3,4,5
  • Yaguang Wang2,3,4,5
  • Jingsong Zhang2,3,4,5
  • Hao Zeng1
  • Guangxi Sun1
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
  2. 2Nuclear Power Institute of China, Chengdu, 610213 China
  3. 3Sichuan Haitong Isotope Technology Co., Ltd, Chengdu, 610213 China
  4. 4Haitong Isotope and Radiopharmaceutical Engineering Research Center (Chengdu) Co., Ltd, Chengdu, 610213 China
  5. 5National Engineering Research Center of Isotopes and Medicine, Chengdu, 610213 China
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Abstract

Background: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has emerged as a convenient and reliable surrogate marker for insulin resistance (IR) and has been linked to an increased risk of several malignancies. However, its association with prostate cancer (PCa) risk remains uncertain. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between the TyG index and PCa.

Methods: We systematically searched Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase from inception to June 1, 2025. Eligible studies were identified according to prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed by using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. To estimate the true effect range in similar studies, the 95% prediction interval (PI) was calculated. Heterogeneity was quantified via Cochran’s Q and I2 statistic, with meta-regression and subgroup analyses further conducted to identify potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results: Of 897 records initially identified, 7 studies (5 case–control and 2 retrospective cohort) involving 581,960 participants met the inclusion criteria. An elevated TyG index was associated with an increased risk of PCa (OR = 4.61, 95% CI: 1.04–20.51, I2 = 98.2%, P < 0.001, 95% PI: 0.023–916.15) and with higher PCa-related mortality (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05–1.35, I2 = 0%, P = 0.699). Subgroup analyses suggested that geographic region and study design were major contributors to heterogeneity. Specifically, in Asian studies OR was 8.06 (95% CI: 2.38–27.38, I2 = 87.39%), and in the single European study OR was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.84–1.00, I2 = 0%).

Conclusion: While a statistically significant association exists between an elevated TyG index and both increased PCa risk and worse mortality, our findings underscore the substantial heterogeneity and limited evidence in this area, highlighting the need for circumspection. Given the limited number of included studies and the extreme heterogeneity observed, the association should be viewed with considerable reservation. Future research urgently requires more prospective studies, standardized protocols, and harmonized cut‑off values.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-026-04520-2.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{cao2026association,
  title = {{Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with prostate cancer risk and prognosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis}},
  author = {Haobo Cao and Sike He and Bo Li and Ning Luo and Yaguang Wang and Jingsong Zhang and Hao Zeng and Guangxi Sun},
  journal = {World Journal of Surgical Oncology},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1186/s12957-026-04520-2},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-026-04520-2},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with prostate cancer risk and prognosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AU  - Haobo Cao
AU  - Sike He
AU  - Bo Li
AU  - Ning Luo
AU  - Yaguang Wang
AU  - Jingsong Zhang
AU  - Hao Zeng
AU  - Guangxi Sun
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/10
JO  - World Journal of Surgical Oncology
DO  - 10.1186/s12957-026-04520-2
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-026-04520-2
AB  - Background: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has emerged as a convenient and reliable surrogate marker for insulin resistance (IR) and has been linked to an increased risk of several malignancies. However, its association with prostate cancer (PCa) risk remains uncertain. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between the TyG index and PCa.  Methods: We systematically searched Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase from inception to June 1, 2025. Eligible studies were identified according to prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed by using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. To estimate the true effect range in similar studies, the 95% prediction interval (PI) was calculated. Heterogeneity was quantified via Cochran’s Q and I2 statistic, with meta-regression and subgroup analyses further conducted to identify potential sources of heterogeneity.  Results: Of 897 records initially identified, 7 studies (5 case–control and 2 retrospective cohort) involving 581,960 participants met the inclusion criteria. An elevated TyG index was associated with an increased risk of PCa (OR = 4.61, 95% CI: 1.04–20.51, I2 = 98.2%, P < 0.001, 95% PI: 0.023–916.15) and with higher PCa-related mortality (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05–1.35, I2 = 0%, P = 0.699). Subgroup analyses suggested that geographic region and study design were major contributors to heterogeneity. Specifically, in Asian studies OR was 8.06 (95% CI: 2.38–27.38, I2 = 87.39%), and in the single European study OR was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.84–1.00, I2 = 0%).  Conclusion: While a statistically significant association exists between an elevated TyG index and both increased PCa risk and worse mortality, our findings underscore the substantial heterogeneity and limited evidence in this area, highlighting the need for circumspection. Given the limited number of included studies and the extreme heterogeneity observed, the association should be viewed with considerable reservation. Future research urgently requires more prospective studies, standardized protocols, and harmonized cut‑off values.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-026-04520-2.
SN  - 1477-7819
ER  -