Genomic Analysis of Puerto Rican Hispanic/Latino Men with Prostate Cancer

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Oncology
• Population Health

Background:

• Puerto Rican Hispanic/Latino (PR H/L) men face higher prostate cancer incidence and mortality.
• Socio-economic and biological factors contribute to this disparity.
• The Puerto Rico BioBank is the first cancer tissue biobank at a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the genomic features of prostate cancer in 35 PR H/L men.
• To identify potential genomic markers associated with disease aggressiveness and progression.
• To inform future personalized treatment strategies for this population.

Main Methods:

• Whole-exome sequencing of tumor samples.
• RNA sequencing of tumor samples.
• Analysis of mutation profiles and gene expression patterns.

Main Results:

• Distinct mutation profiles and gene expression patterns were observed in PR H/L men.
• Mutations in TP53 and TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions were less common compared to broader populations.
• Observed genomic differences may correlate with disease aggressiveness and progression.

Conclusions:

• This pilot study advances understanding of ethnicity-specific genetic factors in prostate cancer.
• Inclusive genomic studies are crucial for underrepresented patient cohorts.
• Further research with larger cohorts is needed to fully characterize PR H/L prostate cancer genomics and enable personalized medicine.