Race Differences in Prostate Cancer

Race Differences in Prostate Cancer
By Julie Monheim,
Ivanhoe Health Correspondent

Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- When it comes to prostate cancer,
researchers say race does matter. A new study shows a specific protein
may explain why blacks have a higher risk of developing and dying from
the disease.

Researchers from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute studied 25 black men
and 25 white men who had been tested for prostate cancer. They found the
androgen receptor protein expression was 22-percent higher in the benign
prostate tissue and 81-percent higher in the cancerous prostate tissue
of black patients. Androgens are the hormones responsible for the
development of male characteristics such as facial and body hair,
baldness, and muscle development. They are also responsible for the
development of the male prostate.

James Mohler, M.D., from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, told Ivanhoe
this is the first study that could explain why blacks have a higher risk
of developing the disease. He says, "The study demonstrates that
underlying tumor biology may account for the disparity in prostate
cancer outcome by race."

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is the second
leading cause of cancer death. This year, more than 28,000 men will die
from the disease. Researchers say more studies are needed to confirm
androgen receptor protein expression plays a role in prostate cancer
risk. Dr. Mohler says, "If these findings are confirmed, we will have
uncovered the first significant biologic difference between races that
may allow us to understand better why prostate cancer is more aggressive
in African Americans."

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