Prostate Cancer More Deadly in African American Men

Isaac J. Powell MD Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Inst University Health Center Detroit, MI 48201.MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Isaac J. Powell MD
Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Inst
University Health Center
Detroit, MI 48201.

Medical Research: What is the background for your study?

Dr. Powell: During the PSA testing era for prostate cancer, which is responsible for early treatment, survival disparity between African Americans and European Americans has been eliminated.

Medical Research: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Powell: This was not unexpected.  However, prostate cancer racial mortality rate disparity continues to be 2 to 3 time greater among African American compared to European American men.

Medical Research: What should patients and providers take away from this report?

Dr. Powell: Therefore we recommend robust education and PSA testing as well as digital rectal examination to begin at age 40 for AAM and that this recommendation should be included in all PCa guidelines.

Medical Research: What further research do you recommend as a result of your study?

Dr. Powell: We have reported that prostate cancer grows faster among African Americans compared to European American men and that there may be genetic and/or biologic explanations for this difference.  We are in the process evaluating this issue.

Citation:

Reducing Prostate Cancer Racial Disparity: Evidence for Aggressive Early Prostate Cancer PSA Testing of African American Men
Powell IJ1, Vigneau FD2, Bock CH2, Ruterbusch J2, Heilbrun LK2.

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014 Aug;23(8):1505-11. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-13-1328. Epub 2014 May 6.

 

 

Last Updated on August 4, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD