Similar age-specific PSA, complexed PSA, and percent cPSA levels among African-American and white men of southern Louisiana. Prostate-specific antigen.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the mean and median complexed prostate-specific antigen (cPSA) levels in a predominantly African-American population and to explore whether differences in cPSA exist between the races. Differences in total PSA (tPSA) levels between age-matched African-American and white men have been reported by several groups. Age-specific cPSA levels, however, have not been thoroughly evaluated and reported among African-American populations.


METHODS
We prospectively evaluated the serum cPSA, tPSA, and percent cPSA levels by the Bayer Immuno 1 assay as a function of age among 1755 African-American and 630 white men in southern Louisiana presenting to a prostate cancer screening program. All men had a normal digital rectal examination or biopsy-proven benign pathologic findings. The intragroup and intergroup statistical analyses were carried out for each decade of age.


RESULTS
The median cPSA level for African-American men aged 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and 60 to 69 years old was 0.45, 0.61, and 0.84 ng/mL, respectively. These did not differ significantly from those of age-matched white men. Also, no difference was found in the mean or median tPSA between the races. The percent cPSA values showed a trend for lower levels in African Americans.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that no significant difference exists between cPSA or tPSA levels in African-American and white men without prostate cancer. Genetic and epigenetic factors distinct to this region may account for this observation and thus need further evaluation.
Martin
Benjamin
B
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Cheli
Carol
C
Pollard
Steven
S
Sullivan
Jerry
J
Goodman
Jack
J
Kokatnur
Mohan
M
Ward
Maria
M
Martin
Laraine
L
Mercante
Don
D
Rayford
Walter
W
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D044383:Black People; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen