Earlier detection of prostate cancer in African American men treated with radiotherapy:Results of a targeted screening program

Our objective was to determine whether earlier detection of prostate cancer was possible among African American men (AAM) using targeted screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA). One thousand one hundred five AAM had PSA screening through the local churches. In total, 35 prostate cancers were discovered, for which 13 men received external beam irradiation. These patients' tumor characteristics were compared with those of 107 AAM who received irradiation during the same period but who were not a component of this targeted screen (comparison group). The screened group was older (72 vs. 68 years) than the comparison group. However, the screened group had a lower average PSA value (16.3 vs. 29.8 ng/ml; P < 0.05) and a lower median PSA value (6.8 vs. 14.2 ng/ml; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the patient distribution by Gleason score; however, the screened patients had significantly fewer T3/T4 tumors (9% vs. 29%; P < 0.05). This analysis supports the hypothesis that early detection of prostate cancer is possible among AAM using targeted screening with PSA. Radiat Oncol Invest 1996;4:80–82.