New research suggests living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, especially among African American men, potentially contributing to racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that men living in disadvantaged areas had significantly higher activity of stress-related genes, which may promote cancer development.
“Our findings suggest an impact of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods—which more commonly affects African Americans—on stress-related genetic pathways in the body,” said Dr. Kathryn Hughes Barry, senior author and assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Researchers analyzed tumor tissue from 218 men with prostate cancer, including 168 African American and 50 White patients. They evaluated neighborhood factors like income, education, employment, and housing quality.
The study found neighborhood disadvantage was associated with higher expression of genes related to inflammation and stress response. One gene strongly linked to disadvantage, HTR6, is involved in pathways that regulate immune response.
African American men have higher prostate cancer incidence and more than double the mortality rate compared to White men in the U.S. They are often diagnosed with more aggressive cancer at younger ages.
Dr. Barry noted the study suggests a complex relationship between environment and genetics in cancer disparities. She called for larger studies to further investigate how neighborhood and individual factors may contribute to tumor biology and patient outcomes.
The findings highlight the human toll of residential segregation and disinvestment in minority communities on health outcomes. Researchers hope the results will inform interventions to reduce prostate cancer disparities.
See “Can Living in a Disadvantaged Area Increase the Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer?” (July 19, 2024)
