Background Prostate cancer (PCa) remains the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. PCa exhibits the most striking racial disparity, as African American men are at 1.4 times higher risk of being diagnosed, and two to three times higher risk of dying of PCa, compared to Caucasian men. The etiology of the disparity has not been clearly elucidated. The objective of this paper is to critically review the literature and summarize the most prominent PCa racial disparities accompanied by proposed explanations. Methods The present literature on disparities at presentation, diagnosis, treatment and survival of African American men affected by PCa was systematically reviewed. Original research as well as relevant review articles were included. Results African American men recurrently present with more advanced disease than Caucasian men, are administered different treatment regimens than Caucasian men, and have shorter progression-free survival following treatment. In addition, African American men report more treatment related side-effects that translates to the diminished quality of life. Conclusions PCa racial disparity exists at stages of presentation, diagnosis, treatment regimens and subsequent survival, and the quality of life. The disparities are complex in involving biological, socio-economic and socio-cultural determinants. These mounting results highlight an urgent need for future clinical, scientific and socio-cultural research involving transdisciplinary teams to elucidate the causes for PCa racial disparities.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 238,590 U.S. men will develop PCa and 29,720 men will die from the disease in 2013. PCa exhibits the most profound racial disparities of all cancers with African American men having a 70% higher incidence rate and more than two times higher mortality rate than Caucasian men. Published research on PCa disparities focuses on singular outcomes such as incidence, mortality or quality of life. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive summary of the racial disparities found at each stage of the PCa Care Continuum which includes prevention, detection, treatments, and outcomes and survival. It focuses primarily on disparities among Caucasian (white) and African American men.

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