A recent study, the largest of its kind, has revealed the genetic risk factors contributing to increased cases of prostate cancer among African men. The study which involved 7,500 men drawn from eastern, western and southern Africa, identified that African men are at a higher risk of suffering from prostate cancer.
According to medical scientist Wenlong Carl Chen, men of African ancestry both in Africa and in the United States reported a higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared to men from other ancestries in the world.
The study found that men of African and African Caribbean ancestry showed signs of developing a more aggressive form of prostate cancer at a younger age as opposed to those of European ancestry.
The scientist says the study aimed at unearthing aspects of the genetic architecture of prostate cancer that were specific to African men.
“In other words, we wanted to understand what it is about African men’s genetic makeup that puts them at higher risk for prostate cancer,” Chen said.
The results of the study identified that the genetic risk factors significantly contributed to the development of this type of cancer which accounts for almost 25% of the total cases of cancers diagnosed in Africa.
The genetic risks, according to the study, can be categorised into two groups;
Hereditary risk factors or germline mutations – Genetic mutations in genes, like BRCA1 and BRCA2, were linked to increased risks of developing cancers. In particular, the mutations in BRCA2, have been linked to higher risks of developing aggressive prostate cancer.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms or variants – These have been termed the most common genetic variants responsible for the increased risk of this deadly disease. Each variant individually accounts for a small increase in risk and when combined, several variants increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
The study also looked at how much of a risk the inherited genetic variants contribute to one suffering from prostate cancer.
Chen points out that despite the heavy burden that prostate cancer is causing the continent of Africa, there still lacks the kind of technology and specialized instruments required to carry out such studies due to the amount of money required to acquire them.
Chen says they had to study a diverse population of African men to better understand the genetic causes of the disease. This is largely attributed to the fact that African men have a higher genetic diversity as compared to those of other ancestries. The African population is also considered to be much older Africa being the home of Homo Sapiens, and have, therefore, accumulated genetic variations over time.
This particular study concentrated on sub-Saharan Africa because similar studies have been carried out in other places around the world but the participation of African men has always been at a record low.
The Men of African Descent, carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP), a consortium that did the research was founded in 2016 when universities and hospitals in five countries in Africa – Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal, and South Africa, entered a partnership with other several US-based universities.
It is through centres established in Africa that men who had been newly diagnosed with the disease were recruited and, as controls, men who did test positive for prostate cancer were also registered for the study.
The study covered 3,963 men with prostate cancer and 3,509 controls. A custom genotyping array, which gives information on hundreds of thousands of DNA variants, was used to carry out most bio-sample processing as well as genotyping was done in Africa. In this particular study, the genotyping array was not only optimised but also designed to capture African genetic variations.
The findings identified three loci (genetic regions) with a strong association with increased prostate cancer incidence.
“The lead signals within these loci were common in African populations but were almost absent in non-African populations,” added Chen in an interview.
Much as the three loci were previously seen in other populations, the study’s signals within these loci were distinctive to African populations.
Chen also points out that there are differences even within Africa in terms of the genetic parts that contribute to the development of prostate cancer based on geographical locations.
With these findings, there arises the importance and need to spend even more time to find the causes and cure to this particular disease which has been a big burden in Africa.
Did You Know?
- Prostate cancer symptoms often go unnoticed in the early stages. Regular screening is essential for early detection.
- Prostate cancer risk increases with age, but African men tend to develop more aggressive forms of the disease at a younger age.
Quick Tips for Prostate Health:
- Get regular health check-ups.
- Maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine.
- Don’t ignore symptoms like difficulty urinating or pain.
This ground-breaking study has, undoubtedly, put Africa on the map in the global fight against prostate cancer.
So, Let’s start talking about men’s health and make prostate cancer prevention a priority across the continent.
Have you had a prostate health check? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Let’s keep the conversation going.
