Risk Factors

Risk Factors

The major risk factors for prostate cancer include genetic, dietary, and environmental factors that effect male hormones (androgens) and make a man more susceptible to this cancer.

Age

Prostate cancer occurs almost exclusively in men over age 40 and most often after age 50. It is estimated that by age 70, about 65% of men have at least microscopic evidence of prostate cancers. Fortunately, the cancer is often very slow growing and older men with the cancer nearly always die of something else.

Family History and Genetic Factors

Evidence suggests that heredity plays a role in some types of prost ate cancers. Men with a family history of the disease have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Having one family member with prostate cancer doubles a man's own risk, and having three family members poses an 11-fold risk for the disease.

In 1998, scientists discovered a gene, located on chromosome 1, which may be involved in 1 in 500 cases of prostate cancer. They named this gene HPC1. (HPC stands for “hereditary prostate cancer”.) In 2005, scientists announced another major breakthrough in understanding the genetic components of prostate cancer. Research published in Science suggested that, in some cases, prostate cancer occurs when a specific set of genes merge. The genes are part of the ETS gene family. At this point, scientists have identified 3 genes: ETV1, ETV4, and ERG. Doctors hope that future genetic research will help develop targeted drug therapy for prostate cancer.

Ethnicity

African American men have the world's highest risk for prostate cancer, more than 50% higher than the risk for Caucasian American males. The disease is also more lethal among African Americans. Men who live in Asia have lower risks for prostate cancer, but their risk increases if they move to North America. This indicates that there are unknown environmental or dietary factors that can alter a man's underlying genetic risk of developing this disease.

Socioeconomic Issues. The higher mortality rates in African American men may be partly due to socioeconomic factors, such as lack of insurance, irregular screening and a late diagnosis, and unequal access to health care. For example, a 2000 study at a veteran's hospital where all men had equal care reported no differences in tumor properties between African American and Caucasian men.