Expression of several stress-related genes increased in prostate tumors for men living in disadvantaged neighborhoods<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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FRIDAY, July 19, 2024 (HealthDay News) — 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<\/em>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/em> (serotonin pathway) remained significant. Associations were seen for several genes, including HTR6<\/em>, with multiple metrics. Higher expression of five proinflammatory genes in the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity was seen with greater neighborhood disadvantage.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n