West African genetic ancestry may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer among men residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods but not among those residing in more affluent neighborhoods, according to a recent study published by Pichardo et al in JAMA Network Open. The findings suggested that the neighborhood environment may play a role in determining how genetic ancestry influences prostate cancer risk.
Background
A majority of Black individuals in the United States have West African genetic ancestry—which previous studies have linked to an increased prostate cancer risk among Black men. The risk of prostate cancer among Black men has also been found to be higher compared with any other U.S. population group. However, it is unclear whether additional factors may contribute to this ancestry-related risk.
Study Methods and Results
In the recent study, researchers recruited 1,469 self-identified Black and White men residing in the greater Baltimore area and monitored their long-term outcomes—with the goal of determining how the neighborhood environment and West African ancestry may act together to increase prostate cancer risk. They determined the participants’ West African ancestry through genetic markers and neighborhood socioeconomic status through factors such as unemployment rate, income level, and percentage of households in poverty.
After examining the combined association of this ancestry and the neighborhood environment with prostate cancer risk, the researchers discovered that West African genetic ancestry was associated with prostate cancer risk among men residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods but not among those living in more affluent areas.
Conclusions
The researchers posited that the increased ancestry-related risk in disadvantaged neighborhoods may be the result of chronic stress from factors such as racial profiling, housing discrimination, and exposure to violence—which can affect the immune system and cause high levels of inflammation, in turn promoting tumor growth.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit jamanetwork.com.
