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Clinical Research

African-American men with low-grade prostate cancer have higher tumor burdens: Results from the Duke Prostate Center

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 16, pages 91–94 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

To investigate racial differences in tumor burden (cancer volume, cancer percentage and cancer to PSA ratios) in a large cohort of men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods:

Demographic, clinical and pathological data of patients undergoing RP between 1993–2010 were reviewed and compared between African-American (AA) and non African-American (nAA) men. Further assessments of pathological tumor burden (estimated tumor volume, percent of cancer involvement, and estimated tumor volume/PSA ratios) were performed across Gleason score categories.

Results:

Of 4157 patients in the analysis, 604 (14.5%) were AA. Overall, AA patients were younger, had higher Gleason scores, PSA levels and incidence of palpable disease (all P<0.001). Despite comparable prostate weights (39.4 vs. 39.6 g), AA men had higher percent cancer involvement and estimated tumor volume (all P<0.001) but similar estimated tumor volume/PSA ratios (P>0.05). When stratified by Gleason scores, prostate weights were comparable; however, estimated tumor volume, percent cancer involvement and estimated tumor volume/PSA ratios were higher in AA men with low grade (⩽6) prostate cancer (PCa), similar in intermediate grade (7–8) and lower in high grade (9-10) PCa compared to nAA men.

Conclusions:

In this large series, AA patients had higher disease burden (estimated tumor volume, percent cancer involvement, estimated tumor volume/PSA ratios) compared to nAA but this association was especially pronounced in low grade (Gleason ⩽6) cancers. These data depict a complex picture of relations between race and tumor burden across the spectrum of PCa aggressiveness. Further investigation is warranted to understand the mechanisms of racial disparities in PCa.

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Acknowledgements

LLB and LG supported by research was supported research funds from the Committee for Urologic Research, Education, and Development (CURED) of Duke University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Duke Prostate Center, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    M Tsivian, L L Bañez, C J Keto, M R Abern, P Qi, L Gerber, J W Moul & T J Polascik

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  1. M Tsivian
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  2. L L Bañez
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Correspondence to T J Polascik.

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Tsivian, M., Bañez, L., Keto, C. et al. African-American men with low-grade prostate cancer have higher tumor burdens: Results from the Duke Prostate Center. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 16, 91–94 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2012.39

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