A groundbreaking study by the University of Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth University reveals that disadvantaged neighborhoods significantly influence stress-related gene activity, potentially increasing the risk of aggressive prostate cancer in African American men.
New research published in JAMA Network Open suggests that living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods can significantly heighten the activity of stress-related genes, potentially leading to a higher incidence of aggressive prostate cancer among African American men. This critical discovery was made by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
African American men already bear a disproportionate burden of prostate cancer in the United States, facing higher rates of diagnosis and mortality compared to their White counterparts. The reasons behind these disparities have long puzzled scientists, but this new study may shed light on some contributing factors.
“Our findings suggest an impact of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods – which more commonly affects African Americans – on stress-related genetic pathways in the body. We believe this may increase an individual’s risk of aggressive prostate cancer and contribute to prostate cancer disparities by race,” Kathryn Hughes Barry, senior author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UMSOM and a cancer epidemiology researcher at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC), said in a news release.
The study identified a significant increase in the expression of five key inflammation-related genes among men living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, with the gene HTR6, involved in the serotonin pathway, showing the strongest link. Increased inflammation is a known risk factor for the development and progression of prostate cancer.
Researchers gathered and analyzed data from more than 218 men who underwent prostate surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center between 1992 and 2021. A prominent 77% of these participants were African American, reflecting the study’s focus on understanding racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.
The study also examined the historical context of systemic racism, recognizing how policies such as redlining have perpetuated long-term economic disadvantages and health disparities in affected communities.
“The research reveals a complex interplay between environment and genes, which is becoming increasingly important in the study of cancer health disparities,” Mark T. Gladwin, the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and dean of UMSOM, said in the news release. “It provides support for a potentially harmful effect of living in economically disadvantaged communities on stress-related genetic signaling pathways and underscores the importance of developing interventions to improve the health and well-being of our minority populations.”
The study’s first author Joseph Boyle, who is a postdoctoral research fellow at VCU, echoed these sentiments, indicating the necessity for further exploration in this field.
“The findings from our study support and build on existing research on the emerging importance of neighborhood factors and chronic stress to better understand aggressive prostate cancer and persistent racial disparities,” he added.
This research signifies an essential step towards addressing health inequities, with the hope of informing future interventions to mitigate aggressive prostate cancer risk.