Recent studies show biological difference in prostate tumors of black men
Prostate cancer kills more black men than any other group in the world, yet there is still little consistent screening and early detection guidelines or prevention strategies for them. This information, from a new Moffitt Cancer Center review, concludes that more focus on this cancer in black men is needed to reduce their risk of developing or dying of the disease.
“Much of the evidence we have today on how to prevent or treat this disease is based to a large extent on clinical trials with large numbers of European American men and not sufficient numbers of African-American or black men,” says study author Nagi B. Kumar, Ph.D., director of Cancer Chemoprevention at Moffitt. “Since recent studies have shown a biological difference in prostate tumors between African Americans and European American men, research on prevention and treatment strategies that targets this high-risk group is urgently needed.”
In the review, researchers identify several natural compounds that show promise in reducing the risk of prostate cancer in black men and lament the lack of clinical trials seeking alternative screening methods and interventions targeted specifically for this group.
To this end, Moffitt has launched a clinical trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of a botanical agent, isoflavones, on black men with prostate cancer.
