Gene Mutation Linked to Prostate Cancer in African-American Men

African-American men who inherit a prostate cancer genetic mutation are at increased risk for the disease, according to a study published in the Asian Journal of Andrology.

Shahrar Koochekpour, MD, PhD, from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, discovered a defect in the androgen receptor, the receptor responsible for regulating testosterone, contributed to the development and progression of prostate cancer in high-risk African-American men.

For the study Dr. Koochekpour tested DNA 30 African-American men and 30 Caucasian men, who had a proven history of prostate cancer in their families.

"We detected this mutation only in African-American men with prostate cancer," Dr. Koochekpour stated. "We found it in the cell's androgen receptor (AR), a protein which interacts and response to male sex hormones. This protein is profoundly involved in prostate cancer formation and its progression to an advanced metastatic, incurable stage. We believe that this mutation increases the risk of the development and progression of prostate cancer, in part by altering the receptor's DNA-binding ability, and by regulating the activities of other genes and proteins involved in the growth and aggressive behaviors of tumors."

According to the American Cancer Society's most up-to-date data, African-American men have the highest mortality rate for prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the United States. Additionally, the death rate for prostate cancer is 2.4 times higher in African-American men than white men.

"We are hopeful that this discovery will eventually lead to a simple genetic test for prostate caner for African-American men who are at high risk for developing prostate cancer, allowing genetic counseling and earlier, potentially life-saving treatment," Dr. Koochekpour concluded.