A large-scale genomic study has uncovered crucial genetic risk factors for prostate cancer in African men, shedding light on long-standing health disparities. The research, involving nearly 8,000 men from five African countries, is the first of its kind to investigate prostate cancer genetics across diverse African populations.
Dr. Carl Chen from Wits University, a key researcher in the study, emphasized the significance of these findings. “Men of African descent have a much higher risk of developing prostate cancer during their lifetime. It tends to develop at an earlier age and is more aggressive,” he explained. Until now, most prostate cancer research has focused on European populations, leaving a significant gap in understanding the disease’s impact on African men.
The study identified three genetic regions strongly associated with increased prostate cancer incidence, unique to African populations. Importantly, these genetic signals varied in strength across East, West, and Southern Africa, indicating diverse risk profiles within the continent.
Professor Michèle Ramsay, Director of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Biosciences, highlighted the potential impact of these findings. “This study will lay the foundation to develop models for risk prediction using genetic data to improve the treatment of prostate cancer,” she stated.
The research also underscores the critical need for ancestry-specific data in genomic medicine. Current prostate cancer screening methods, primarily based on European data, have proven less effective for African men. This study paves the way for more targeted and culturally relevant approaches to prostate cancer prevention and treatment in Africa.
See “Large-scale study identifies prostate cancer genetic risk factors in a diverse group of African men” (October 11, 2024)
