This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bunker, C. H. Articles by Kuller, L. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bunker, C. H. Articles by Kuller, L. H.

High Prevalence of Screening-detected Prostate Cancer among Afro-Caribbeans

The Tobago Prostate Cancer Survey¹

Departments of Epidemiology [C. H. B., A. L. P., L. H. K.], Medicine [A. M. B., D. L. T.], Urology [B. R. K., C. A. V.], and Pathology [R. D., M. J. B.], University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261; Department of Medicine, Tobago Regional Hospital, Scarborough, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago [A. L. P.]; and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 [R. D., A. M. B., M. J. B., D. L. T., L. H. K.]

Risk for prostate cancer is high among African Americans.We hypothesized that risk for prostate cancer isalso high in other populations of African descent. Our objective was to determine the screening-detected prevalence of prostate cancer in the predominantly Afro-Caribbean population on the island of Tobago. Male residents, ages 40–79 years, were invited to participate in a population-based screening for prostate cancer using serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exam (DRE). Men with elevated PSA (4 ng/ml) or abnormal DRE were offered an ultrasound-guided sextant biopsy of the prostate gland. Men (2484), ages 40–79 years, underwent prostate cancer screening between September 1997 and June 2001. Mean age was 55.9, SD was 10.6 years, and median was 54 years. Mean serum PSA was 14.8 ng/ml, SD was 376 [excluding 4 values 2 SD above the mean (1,112, 1,317, 1,818, and 18,330 ng/ml) mean PSA was 5.5 ng/ml and SD was 29.6], and median PSA was 1.2 ng/ml. Elevated PSA and/or abnormal DRE were observed in 31% (759 of 2484) overall, and in age groups 40–49 (87 of 843, 10%), 50–59 (201 of 729, 28%), 60–69 (262 of 584, 45%), and 70–79 (209 of 328, 64%). Of 681 men biopsied, 259 (38%, or 10% of the 2484 screened) were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Age-specific rates of screening detected prostate cancer were: 1%, ages 40–79 years; 7%, ages 50–59 years; 18%, ages 60–69 years; and 28%, ages 70–79 years. These screening results indicate a very high screening-detected prevalence of prostate cancer in this population of West African descent. These data support the hypothesis that populations of African descent share genetic and/or lifestyle factors that contribute to their elevated risk for prostate cancer.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. S. Consedine, B. A. Adjei, P. M. Ramirez, and J. M. McKiernan An Object Lesson: Source Determines the Relations That Trait Anxiety, Prostate Cancer Worry, and Screening Fear Hold with Prostate Screening Frequency Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., July 1, 2008; 17(7): 1631 - 1639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Prior, S. M. Roth, X. Wang, C. Kammerer, I. Miljkovic-Gacic, C. H. Bunker, V. W. Wheeler, A. L. Patrick, and J. M. Zmuda Genetic and environmental influences on skeletal muscle phenotypes as a function of age and sex in large, multigenerational families of African heritage J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2007; 103(4): 1121 - 1127. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. S. Consedine, D. Horton, T. Ungar, A. K. Joe, P. Ramirez, and L. Borrell Fear, Knowledge, and Efficacy Beliefs Differentially Predict the Frequency of Digital Rectal Examination Versus Prostate Specific Antigen Screening in Ethnically Diverse Samples of Older Men American Journal of Men's Health, March 1, 2007; 1(1): 29 - 43. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. L. Freedman, C. A. Haiman, N. Patterson, G. J. McDonald, A. Tandon, A. Waliszewska, K. Penney, R. G. Steen, K. Ardlie, E. M. John, et al. From the Cover: Admixture mapping identifies 8q24 as a prostate cancer risk locus in African-American men PNAS, September 19, 2006; 103(38): 14068 - 14073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. S. Consedine, A. H. Morgenstern, E. Kudadjie-Gyamfi, C. Magai, and A. I. Neugut Prostate cancer screening behavior in men from seven ethnic groups: the fear factor. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2006; 15(2): 228 - 237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]