The risk of prostate cancer associated with metabolic syndrome in African American versus nonHispanic Caucasians

Problem: Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death in African American men. The etiology of prostate cancer has yet to be understood. This article seeks to review the association between prostate cancer and metabolic syndrome in African-Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites. Method: Articles were compiled using a PubMed search via the Weill Cornell Medical College Library website. Results: Forty-nine articles were obtained, but only four original studies from 2004--2009 are included in this literature review. Two articles linked African-American men with metabolic syndrome and an association with prostate cancer. The two other articles compared non-Hispanic whites with metabolic syndrome and the risk of prostate cancer. Results of this literature review showed that features of metabolic syndrome are associated with prostate cancer. Hypertension and abdominal obesity were reported more commonly in African-American with prostate cancer. Non-Hispanic Caucasians were found to have an inverse association with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The literature review investigates the association of metabolic and prostate cancer risk in African-American men, but not Caucasian men. The racial disparity in prostate cancer incidence warrants additional investigation.