Prostate cancer trends in Asia

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Global Health

Background:

• Significant disparities exist in prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates between Western and Eastern populations.
• Current prostate cancer treatment guidelines in Asia largely rely on Western data, lacking region-specific clinical evidence.
• This necessitates adaptation of Western guidelines, which may not always be optimal for Asian patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the differences in prostate cancer incidence, mortality, and treatment response between Eastern and Western populations.
• To emphasize the need for Asia-specific clinical data and guidelines for prostate cancer management.
• To promote global information exchange for improved prostate cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of existing clinical evidence on prostate cancer treatment, particularly endocrine therapy, in Asian and Western cohorts.
• Identification of factors contributing to regional differences, including genetics, lifestyle, and healthcare environments.
• Review of current treatment guideline applicability in the Asian context.

Main Results:

• Clinical evidence for endocrine therapy in Asia shows variations in treatment choices and outcomes compared to the West.
• Genetic background, living environments, and healthcare systems are identified as potential factors influencing these regional differences.
• Current Western-based guidelines may not fully address the specific needs of Asian prostate cancer patients.

Conclusions:

• High-quality clinical trials and joint epidemiological studies in Asia are crucial for generating robust, comparable data.
• Accumulating Asia-specific data is essential for developing tailored and effective prostate cancer treatment strategies.
• Enhanced global collaboration and data sharing can lead to significant advancements in the global management of prostate cancer.