Research Project: Prostate Cancer & Diet in African American Men
Prostate Cancer and Dietary HA Exposure in African American Men
- A collaborative project with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UCSF Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Center.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men in the U.S. It is estimated that there were 22,300 new cases of prostate cancer and 3,075 deaths in California men in 2006. African American men have the highest overall prostate cancer rate, followed by non-Hispanic White males. Because the incidence of prostate cancer is greatest in African American men, our target group to screen for this important prostate cancer research is African American men.
What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate is about the size of a walnut and lies below the urinary bladder surrounding the upper part of the urethra. Prostate cancer is characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal tissue forming a malignant tumor beginning in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is frequently a relatively slow-growing cancer and may exist for many years before it is discovered.
Risk Factors
How Is Prostate Cancer Detected?
This research program subscribes to the guidelines of the American Cancer Society. As such, the guidelines recognize that a prostate cancer screening includes BOTH a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test.
The Prostate Cancer Research Project
Since 2001, the project has had an overwhelmingly positive response from men 40-49 years old. As such, we have had to close the research project to men under the age of 50. Our target group is currently 50-70 year old men.
The Project's Hypothesis
Heterocyclic Amines (HA's) are carcinogenes found in particularly high levels of well-done meats (beef, chicken, fish). HA's have been found to cause multiple site cancers in laboratory animals. When laboratory animals are fed a high concentration of meat, fish, and/or chicken which has been cooked for long periods of time by direct heat exposure, colon, mammary and prostate cancers have been diagnosed. Our study looks at whether this same finding may occur in men who eat similar foods.
This project is recruiting a minimum of 600 men to screen (DRE and PSA) for prostate cancer and to interview about the foods that they eat and how they are prepared. The project participation requires a one-time visit which takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Each man may only participate in this project once. The one-time visit includes the blood test, a DRE by a physician and an interview with a food surveyor.
Why Participate?
Participants receive free personal health information in the form of the DRE exam results, and a free laboratory test with an explanation of results sent to you in the mail. You may request that the results also be sent to your physician. Participants receive a check for $30 for the time spent, but best of all, if there are any abnormal findings from the exam or lab test we will track your follow-up results and provide referral sources, counseling and free information. Finally, participants are offered an annual appointment for a free PSA and DRE during our community screenings which occur monthly.
To Participate
Please call the Alta Bates Summit Markstein Cancer Education Prostate Cancer Research Hot Line at (510) 869-8733. Leave your name, age and phone number, and you will receive a call back to schedule an appointment. The research clinic occurs once every month. You must be 50-70 years old, African American and not diagnosed with prostate cancer.
