Gene Expression Differences in Prostate Cancer Between African American and Caucasian American Males
Author Information
Author(s): Renee R Reams, Deepak Agrawal, Melissa B Davis, Sean Yoder, Folakemi T Odedina, Nagi Kumar, Joseph M Higginbotham, Titilola Akinremi, Sandra Suther, Karam FA Soliman
Primary Institution: Florida A&M University
Hypothesis
Altered gene expression plays a major role in the disparity observed in prostate cancer incidence and mortality between African American and Caucasian American Males.
Conclusion
The study identified at least 67 differentially expressed genes that may explain the prostate cancer health disparity between African American and Caucasian American males.
Supporting Evidence
- African American men are 65% more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian American men.
- The study identified at least 67 statistically significant genes with at least +/- 4.0 fold change.
- Gene ontology terms prevalent in African American prostate tumors included interleukins and progesterone signaling.
Takeaway
This study looked at prostate cancer genes in African American and Caucasian American men to understand why African American men have worse outcomes. They found many genes that are expressed differently between the two groups.
Methodology
The study used snap frozen prostate cancer tumors and matched controls, analyzing gene expression profiles with microarray technology.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the limited availability of tissue samples and the small sample size.
Limitations
The study was limited by the small sample size and the inability to find differentially expressed genes in African American males that met the filtering criteria.
Participant Demographics
The study included prostate cancer samples from African American and Caucasian American males.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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