Precision Care and Health Disparities in Prostate Cancer

Data suggests that genetics comprises 42-58% of the prostate cancer risk. GWAS has found about 43% of the risk SNPs in Blacks and European Americans. Most of the SNPs that have been discovered are not associated with aggressive prostate cancer but are more common in men of African ancestry. The genetic variants account for the increased incidence of prostate cancer in Blacks and I posit that environment and namely social determinants of health account for the mortality disparity. We found that the rates of latent prostate cancer are 4-6 times lower in men of West African ancestry in Africa relative to both Black and White Americans. Further, I argue that the American environment itself accounts for the excess prostate cancer mortality seen in both White and Black Americans relative to Nigerian and other West African men. 

Learning Objectives:

1.    Identify the degree of the incidence disparity for Blacks.

2.    Identify the degree of the mortality disparity for Blacks.

3.    Discuss the degree to which the genetic SNPs are associated with younger age and increased risk of overall cancer.