European Prostate Research Articles

Germline mutation landscape of DNA damage repair genes in African Americans with prostate cancer highlights potentially targetable RAD genes

In prostate cancer, emerging data highlight the role of DNA damage repair genes (DDRGs) in aggressive forms of the disease. However, DDRG mutations in African American men are not yet fully defined. Here, we profile germline mutations in all known DDRGs (N = 276) using whole genome sequences from blood DNA of a matched cohort of patients with primary prostate cancer comprising of 300 African American and 300 European Ancestry prostate cancer patients, to determine whether the mutation status can enhance patient stratification for specific targeted therapies. Here, we show that only 13 of the 46 DDRGs identified with pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations are present in both African American and European ancestry patients. Importantly, RAD family genes (RAD51, RAD54L, RAD54B), which are potentially targetable, as well as PMS2 and BRCA1, are among the most frequently mutated DDRGs in African American, but not in European Ancestry patients.

<i>BRCA</i> associated prostate cancer. <i>BRCA</i> heredity of one family

In western European countries prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant disease among male population. Due to innovations in molecular genetics research technology over recent years genetic features of etiology and pathogenesis of prostate cancer have been discovered and this helped to distinguish people with high risk of prostate cancer development. Hereditary forms of malignant tumors occupy a special position due to association with mutations in BRCA1/2 gene in a group of patients with prostate cancer. The most important part of examination of patients with malignant diseases is medico-genetic counseling. It helps to reveal the hereditary of the disease. The detection of germinal mutations in BRCA1/2 gene helps to personify diagnostic measures for primary prophylaxis and treatment of prostate cancer.Here is a case of one patient with hereditary feature of prostate cancer with a mutation in BRCA1 gene. It is important to note that revealing mutations in BRSA gene helps to early diagnose malignant neoplasms. Screening measures to reveal germinal mutations in healthy population can improve early detection of such malignant diseases as breast cancer, prostate cancer and other malignant neoplasms.

163 Historical trends in high-risk prostate cancer patients characteristics: A 27 years old observational study from the European multicenter prostate cancer clinical and translational research group (EMPaCT) data base

163 Historical trends in high-risk prostate cancer patients characteristics: A 27 years old observational study from the European multicenter prostate cancer clinical and translational research group (EMPaCT) data base

Abstract B69: Effects of obesity and neighborhood socioeconomic status on prostate cancer stage and grade

Abstract Background: Obesity has been shown to increase the risk for advanced prostate cancer. Although linked to both obesity and advanced cancer, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) has not been studied as a modifier of obesity effects in prostate cancer patients. Ethnic differences in obesity among men are less pronounced in lower SES environments. It is possible that the relationship between obesity and prostate cancer outcomes varies by neighborhood characteristics. Objective: The goal of this project was to study neighborhood SES as an effect modifier of obesity on prostate cancer characteristics. Neighborhood SES differences may help to explain ethnic differences observed in prostate cancer outcomes. Our general hypotheses are that (1) neighborhood SES differs for African-American and European American prostate cancer patients recruited from the same medical center and (2) neighborhood SES modifies the effects of obesity on prostate cancer outcomes. Methods: A case-case design was proposed to examine the relationship between neighborhood SES and prostate cancer severity. The residential addresses of prostate cancer patients from the University of Pennsylvania were geocoded. Census tract data was downloaded from the Census Bureau website and merged with patient data. Obesity was defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 and non-obese as BMI <30 kg/m2. Median cut-points for census tract variables were determined for all patients combined. Census tract variables included per capita income, percent poverty, median household income, education and employment. Outcomes for this study included tumor stage and tumor grade. Age-adjusted multivariate models were used to examine obesity effects on stage and grade stratified by neighborhood SES. Analyses were stratified by ethnicity. Results: 1000 European American and 144 African-American prostate cancer patients were included in these analyses. We observed no ethnic differences in patient-level variables except for those related to obesity. The African-American sample had a higher mean BMI (29 vs. 27 kg/m,2 p=0.001) compared to European Americans. Neighborhood SES characterized by below median census tract income and education was more prevalent among African-Americans. (<0.001) There was no difference in stage at diagnosis by obesity status for African-Americans or European Americans. However, odds ratios increased to significance among men in either group who lived in neighborhoods below median SES characteristics (i.e., below median per capita income: OR=2.60, 95% CI=1.06-6.36 for African Americans; OR=1.77, 95% CI=1.14-2.76 for European Americans). Obesity was associated with tumor grade at baseline in European Americans (OR=1.52, 1.09-2.11). Stratification by neighborhood SES demonstrated general associations of obesity on tumor grade for European Americans. Conclusions: Lower neighborhood SES is more common among African-American prostate cancer patients than European American cases. The relationship between obesity and tumor stage may be influenced by lower neighborhood SES. Modification of obesity effects by neighborhood SES may suggest strategies for prostate cancer intervention in high-risk communities. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):B69.

Computer assisted anatomical reconstruction: a prostate model

We report a computer assisted three dimensional reconstruction technique using serial sections. This reconstruction was achieved by means of a common microcomputer. The organ analyzed in this study was the common European rabbit prostate.