Abstract C045: Investigating molecular and genetic contributions to racial disparities in prostate cancer by integrating multi-omic datasets available in public
Authors: Hightower Alexandria J. , Rhie Suhn K. , Falzarano Sara M. , Buxbaum Sarah 
Published: January 2023

African-American males are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups. African-American males have increased risk for the disease, experience higher incidence and mortality rates, and present higher grade and stage prostate tumors than Caucasian men. To determine molecular mechanisms beyond racial disparities in prostate cancer, molecular and genetic profiles of prostate tumor samples from different ethnic groups are developed. For example, DNA sequencing in the form of target-based array or whole exome and genome sequencing revealed SNPs, genetic mutations, deletions, and amplifications linked to prostate cancer subgroups. Comparative analysis of DNA sequences of prostate cancer cells have pinpointed areas of interest that suggest race specific mutations. Moreover, differentially expressed genes between prostate tumor tissue samples from African and Caucasian ancestries are identified using RNA sequencing and microarray-based methods. Abnormal levels of gene expression are measured by the levels of mRNA. Furthermore, epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation levels were examined, identifying CpG sites that are differentially methylated among ethnic groups. To comprehensively examine molecular and genetic contributions to racial disparities in prostate cancer, we compiled over 200 published studies that profiled genome, epigenome, and transcriptome in prostate tumor tissues from diverse ethnic groups. Specifically, we categorized studies according to their method and organized the identified features that offer insight into racial disparities in prostate cancer. For instance, we reviewed over 100 studies that identify reproducible genetic alterations found in prostate cancer patients from African ancestry from DNA sequencing experiments. We also reviewed over 50 studies that utilized RNA sequencing to measure gene expression levels in prostate tumor tissues from African-American male samples, identifying genes and signaling pathways abnormally dysregulated in the disease. In addition, we reviewed over 25 studies quantifying epigenetic modifications to determine key and reproducible epigenetic alterations linked to aggressiveness of the disease from African American. Subsequently, we identified socioeconomic factors that are associated with molecular features contributing to the increased risk for prostate cancer in African-American men. Overall, we evaluated multiple molecular and genetic features that contribute to racial disparities in prostate cancer. This may provide researchers with valuable background knowledge and perspective for identifying biomarkers for specific prostate cancer subgroups.

Citation Format: Alexandria J. Hightower, Suhn K. Rhie, Sara M. Falzarano, Sarah Buxbaum. Investigating molecular and genetic contributions to racial disparities in prostate cancer by integrating multi-omic datasets available in public [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C045.