Prostate Cancer Genetics: Variation by Race, Ethnicity, and Geography

Abstract

Prostate cancer rates vary substantially by race, ethnicity, and geography. These disparities can be explained by variation in access to screening and treatment, variation in exposure to prostate cancer risk factors, and variation in the underlying biology of prostate carcinogenesis (including genomic propensity of some groups to develop biologically aggressive disease). It is clear that access to screening and treatment are critical influencers of prostate cancer rates, yet even among geographically diverse populations with similar access to care (e.g., low and medium income countries), African descent men have higher prostate cancer rates and poorer prognosis. To date, the proportion of prostate cancer that can be explained by environmental exposures is small, and the impact of these factors across different racial, ethnic, or geographical populations is poorly understood. In contrast, prostate cancer has one of the highest heritabilities of all major cancers. Numerous genetic susceptibility markers have been identified from family-based studies, candidate gene association studies, and genome-wide association studies. Some prostate cancer loci, including the risk loci found at chromosome 8q24, have consistent effects in all groups studied to date. However, replication of many susceptibility loci across race, ethnicity, and geography remains limited, and additional studies in certain populations (particularly in men of African descent) are needed to better understand the underlying genetic basis of prostate cancer.

The association between prostatitis and prostate cancer. Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Advanced age, family history, BRCA gene mutations and African descent are established risk factors for prostate cancer (1,2). Inflammation is known to be a major risk factor for various types of cancer.…”

The 22Rv1 prostate cancer cell line carries mixed genetic ancestry: Implications for prostate cancer health disparities research using pre‐clinical models

“…We use the term “African American” recognizing that while race is a social construct, racial classification remains extremely useful for describing general patterns of national health and health disparities, as most US health data are reported by self‐identified race . Recent studies have provided compelling evidence in support of the notion that PCa health disparities result from the interplay of multiple factors, including biological/genetic factors . For instance, several recent studies have reported genomic differences between AA men with PCa and Caucasian or European American (EA) with PCa, suggesting a potential role for biological mediators in driving PCa mortality disparities .…”

“…1 Recent studies have provided compelling evidence in support of the notion that PCa health disparities result from the interplay of multiple factors, including biological/genetic factors. [11][12][13][14] For instance, several recent studies have reported genomic differences between AA men with PCa and Caucasian or European American (EA) with PCa, suggesting a potential role for biological mediators in driving PCa mortality disparities. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Understanding how these mediators contribute to increased PCa mortality in AA men requires mechanistic functional studies in preclinical cellular and animal models of PCa.…”

Optimal Starting Age and Baseline Level for Repeat Tests: Economic Concerns of PSA Screening for Chinese Men – 10-Year Experience of a Single Center

“…Obviously, our recommendation agrees with the above guidelines. Considering the differences in ethnicity and geography [16], a slight discrepancy with EAU guidelines was deemed acceptable. Furthermore, the optimal screening ages for PSA > 10 ng/ mL, PCa, and clinically significant PCa, which were 62.5, 60.5 and 61.5 years of age, respectively, according to our data, were rarely reported in national or international studies previously.…”

“…However, very limited evidence of PSA screening for Chinese patients has been reported yet. Due to ethnicity and geography differences [16], the large population-based study of PSA screening in China has been urgently needed recently. Therefore, this study mainly aims to investigate the baseline PSA characteristic for our population, optimal starting age for PSA screening, and intensity of PSA screening in different age groups, and to perform a cost-benefit analysis of PSA screening, to be able to provide an individual PSA screening plan for Chinese men.…”