Analyzing Prostate Cancer Incidence and Survival by Race, Age, and Stage in the United States

Understanding U.S. trends and disparities in advanced prostate cancer survival by factors such as stage, race/ethnicity, and age can guide public health planning, according to a study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

To provide recent data on incidence and survival of prostate cancer in the United States, the researchers analyzed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from population-based cancer registries among over three million new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed and recorded between 2003 and 2017.

The researchers found that localized, regional, distant, and unknown stage prostate cancer accounted for 77%, 11%, 5%, and 7% of cases, respectively, with the incidence of distant stage prostate cancer appreciably rising between 2010 and 2017. Moreover, the analysis showed that between 2001 and 2016, the 10-year relative survival for localized stage prostate cancer was 100%. Overall, the researchers observed that the five-year survival for distant stage prostate cancer improved from 28.7% during 2001 to 2005 to 32.3% during 2011 to 2016. From 2001 to 2016, the five-year survival was found to be highest among Asian/Pacific Islanders (42.0%), followed by Hispanics (37.2%), American Indian/Alaska Natives (32.2%), African Americans (31.6%), and whites (29.1%).

The researchers concluded, “Understanding incidence and long-term survival by stage, race/ethnicity, and age could inform messaging related to the possible benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening and could guide public health planning related to treatment and survivor care. Further research is needed to examine how social determinants of health affect prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment; findings should inform interventions to decrease disparities in outcomes.”