Racial disparities in prostate cancer: a molecular perspective

Abstract

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates are remarkably higher in African-American men as compared to their European-Americans counterparts. Despite these recognitions, precise causes underlying such prevalent racial disparities remain poorly understood. Although socioeconomic factors could account for such differences up to a certain extent, it is now being increasingly realized that such disparity has a molecular basis. Indeed, several differences, including genetic polymorphism, gene mutations, epigenetic modifications, miRNAs alterations, etc., have been reported in malignant prostate tissues from patients of diverse racial backgrounds. Here, we attempt to provide a molecular perspective on prostate cancer racial disparities by gathering available information on these associated factors and discussing their potential significance in disproportionate incidence and clinical outcomes.

Figure 1

Molecular factors associated with prostate cancer racial disparity. Several molecular factors such as gene-polymorphism, -mutations, epigenetic alterations, overexpression, and/or suppression of miRNAs and aberrant activation of molecular signaling pathways play pivotal role in prostate cancer racial disparities.

Figure 2

Interaction between different factors contributing to prostate cancer racial disparity. Socioeconomic factors (dietary habits, life-style and living environment) may cause or impact inherit genetic as well epigenetic alterations in host as well as tumor that interplay with each other to give rise to various tumor phenotypes i.e. aggressive, therapy resistance etc. which ultimately responsible for the racial disparities in incidence and clinical outcomes.