RESPOND Study Targets Prostate Cancer Disparities in Black Men

A major $26.5 million study funded by the NIH is investigating why African-American men are significantly more likely to develop and die from prostate cancer than white men. Titled RESPOND, the study aims to enroll 10,000 African-American men to explore both genetic and social factors, such as poverty, segregation, and racism, that may contribute to this disparity. African-American men have a 15% lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from it compared to white men. Researchers will collect saliva and tumor samples, as well as data on environmental and life stressors, from men across seven states including Louisiana, a hotspot for the disease. Historically, Black men have been underrepresented in medical research due to mistrust stemming from events like the Tuskegee experiment. RESPOND addresses this by involving community and faith leaders in recruitment. Experts hope the study will improve understanding of how biological and environmental factors intersect, potentially reducing unnecessary aggressive treatments and closing racial gaps in prostate cancer outcomes. Ultimately, RESPOND aims to create a more inclusive genetic database and provide insights that could lead to better screening, diagnosis, and care for African-American men affected by this deadly disease.