How Cancer Risk SNPs May Contribute to Prostate Cancer Disparities.

Abstract

Disparities in cancer incidence, prevalence, burden, and outcome exist among specific population groups in the United States. Researchers have identified germline genetic risk single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) that differ by ancestry and may contribute to some of these differences. In this issue of <i>Cancer Research</i>, Han and colleagues found the prostate cancer risk SNP rs4713266 is associated with increased risk of patients with African ancestry. The authors investigated the functional role of the risk SNP, finding that it alters activity of a <i>NEDD9</i> enhancer and increases NEDD9 expression. The study provides epidemiologic and mechanistic insight into factors that may drive prostate cancer disparities.<i>See related article by Han et al., p. 3766</i>.