Clinical and biopsy specimen features in black and white men with clinically localized prostate cancer

The incidence of prostate cancer in black men is estimated to be 30% to 50% higher than among age-matched white men, and black men have a twofold higher mortality rate. To determine whether racial differences exist in men with similarly staged disease, we compared clinical and pathologic features in black and white men with clinical stage T1-T2 prostate cancer.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of all men who had prostate biopsy at our facilities. Men were included in this study if they were of black or white race, if the clinical stage of their prostate cancer was T1-T2, and if detailed information regarding their prostate biopsy was available.

Black men were found to have significantly higher serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, but no other differences were noted in the other clinical or pathologic features studied.

While racial differences in the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer are well known, differences in the clinical and pathologic features between black and white men with similarly staged disease have been poorly studied. Our results suggest that serum PSA levels are higher in black men, but no other differences were noted. This suggests that early detection programs for prostate cancer in black men can potentially decrease prostate cancer mortality.