Skip to main content

Neighborhood Disadvantage Metrics Tied to Stress Genes in Prostate Cancer

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 19, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, July 19, 2024 -- Expression of several stress-related genes in prostate tumors is elevated among men residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods, according to a study published online July 12 in JAMA Network Open.

Joseph Boyle, Ph.D., from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and colleagues examined whether several neighborhood disadvantage metrics are associated with prostate tumor RNA expression of stress-related genes in a cross-sectional study. A total of 105 stress-related genes were assessed with each neighborhood metric for 168 African American and 50 White men with prostate cancer who received radical prostatectomy.

The researchers found that compared with White participants, African American participants experienced greater neighborhood disadvantage (median Area Deprivation Index [ADI], 115 versus 92; median Racial Isolation Index, 0.68 versus 0.11). There was a positive association for ADI with expression of 11 genes; after multiple-comparison adjustment, HTR6 (serotonin pathway) remained significant. Associations were seen for several genes, including HTR6, with multiple metrics. Higher expression of five proinflammatory genes in the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity was seen with greater neighborhood disadvantage.

"These findings support a potential link between neighborhood factors and stress-related pathways, which may in turn contribute to an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer," the authors write.

One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Apnea During REM May Affect Brain Regions Related to Memory Consolidation

TUESDAY, May 13, 2025 -- Greater obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-related hypoxemia is associated with frontoparietal cerebrovascular pathology, which is linked to reduced medial...

Survivorship Interest, Knowledge Limited in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

TUESDAY, May 13, 2025 -- About one-third of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) survivors who have undergone radiation therapy (RT) are interested in, prioritize, and have...

USPSTF Continues to Recommend Syphilis Screening Early in Pregnancy

TUESDAY, May 13, 2025 -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for syphilis during pregnancy. This recommendation forms the basis of a final...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.