Association between periodontal disease and prostate cancer: an umbrella review

Abstract Aim To assess the association between periodontal disease (PD) and prostate cancer (PC) through an umbrella review. Material and methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, SciELO, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were searched for relevant literature published up to February 2026. Eligible studies were systematic reviews, with or without meta-analyses, evaluating the association between PD and PC in adult men over 18 years of age. Narrative reviews, rapid reviews, clinical trials, observational or experimental studies, case reports, editorials, letters, protocols, and posters were not eligible. Methodological quality was evaluated with AMSTAR-2, whereas risk of bias was assessed using ROBIS. Results From an initial retrieval of 173 records, 10 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Of these, five systematic reviews were rated as having high methodological confidence and low risk of bias. These reviews reported an association between periodontal disease and prostate cancer across different geographic regions and study characteristics. Conclusion The findings suggest an association between periodontal disease and prostate cancer; however, the observational design of the included evidence precludes definitive causal inference. Considering that periodontal disease is preventable and treatable, its timely management may represent a relevant strategy to enhance systemic health and potentially reduce the burden of chronic diseases. Protocol registration Open Science Framework, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/65W9S .