Health Disparities Data In Prostate Cancer Highlighted In Department Of Defense Impact 2007 Meeting, USA

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Conferences
Article Date: 05 Sep 2007 - 15:00 PDT

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The U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) will present data today addressing prostate cancer education initiatives aimed at minority and underserved populations at the Innovative Minds in Prostate Cancer Today (IMPaCT) 2007 meeting at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in Atlanta, GA. The four-day meeting, being held September 5-8, will highlight data that push the boundaries of health disparities research in prostate cancer.

"Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, with significantly higher incidence and death rates in African-American men," said COL Janet Harris, Director of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs which manages the PCRP. "Since 1997, the PCRP has funded research that seeks to explain and reduce the disparate burden of prostate cancer on the African-American community."

The PCRP will showcase its progress in this field of research at a plenary session entitled "Health Disparities" scheduled to be held on Thursday, September 6 at 8:15 a.m. Dr. Lovell A. Jones will moderate the discussion on several research studies, including two novel community-based prostate education initiatives as well as a study suggesting the need for increased participation of underserved populations in prospective trials. Results from these studies will be presented within the context of the following abstracts:

Multimedia Education on Prostate Cancer in Barbershops: a Novel Paradigm for Community-Based Health Education - Virgil Simons, The Prostate Net

A nationwide prostate education and screening initiative, entitled "Going to the Barbershop to Fight Prostate Cancer," was developed by the Prostate Net in 2004.
This was the first national program to use the culturally-appropriate, community-based location of the barbershop as a starting point for a consistent and focused health education and outreach campaign. Initial data show that the program has been successful in educating some traditionally hard-to-reach high-risk populations, with particular effectiveness among those less knowledgeable about prostate cancer.

Community Engagement for Ensuring Prostate Health and Cancer Survivorship Among African Americans - Alan Richmond, Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina

Established in 1985, the North Carolina Minority Prostate Cancer Awareness Action Team has mobilized African-American civic, religious and community leaders to address prostate cancer. Its primary mission is one of education and advocacy around the issue of prostate cancer and its disparate impact upon African Americans. Pursuant to its mission, the Action Team engaged in a number of successful activities that include information booths at health fairs and the launch of a patient support model that provides men with direct one-on-one access to a trained prostate cancer survivor. The results of this study show that the Action Team is a model for engaging African-American leaders and historically minority organizations in prostate cancer awareness and education activities. This concept also serves as a model to promote prostate health among at-risk men utilizing appropriate interventions and strategies.

Health Disparity and Prostate Cancer: What Do We Know About Black-White Differences? - Mack Roach III, M.D., University of California, San Francisco

Based on the data published by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the evidence from other randomized trials, there is still no evidence to support stratifying men by race in clinical trials or offering different cancer treatment because of race. However, the results of this study suggest that the RTOG data do not reference important biologic differences attributable to race in the trial participants, such as enhanced sensitivity to the androgen receptor. Thus, the participation of underserved populations in prospective randomized trials appears to be the most straightforward strategy for collecting additional data needed to eliminate or reduce health disparities.

About the PCRP

In 1997, prostate cancer advocates lobbied Congress to set aside $45 million to fund new and innovative prostate cancer research. As a result, the Department of Defense was directed to manage these funds which led to a unique partnership between the public, Congress and the military, resulting in the creation of the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP). Today the PCRP is the second leading source of extramural prostate cancer research funding in the United States. Since its inception, the PCRP has brought together military personnel, scientists, universities and colleges, hospitals, private companies, physicians and prostate cancer survivors in a unique collaboration to facilitate and fund over 1,500 individual grants and $810 million worth of cutting-edge research with the goal of conquering prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Research Program

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