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Prostate cancer incidence and tumor severity in Georgia: descriptive epidemiology, racial disparity, and geographic trends

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Abstract

Purpose

Limited research has been conducted to describe the geographical clustering and distribution of prostate cancer (PrCA) incidence in Georgia (GA). This study describes and compares the temporal and geographic trends of PrCA incidence in GA with a specific focus on racial disparities.

Methods

GA Comprehensive Cancer Registry PrCA incidence data were obtained for 1998–2008. Directly standardized age-adjusted PrCA incidence rates per 100,000 were analyzed by race, stage, grade, and county. County-level hotspots of PrCA incidence were analyzed with the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic in a geographic information system; a census tract-level cluster analysis was performed with a Discrete Poisson model and implemented in SaTScan® software.

Results

Significant (p < 0.05) hotspots of PrCA incidence were observed in nine southwestern counties and six centrally located counties among men of both races. Six significant (p < 0.1) clusters of PrCA incidence rates were detected for men of both races in north and northwest central Georgia. When stratified by race, clusters among white and black men were similar, although centroids were slightly shifted. Most notably, a large (122 km radius) cluster in northwest central Georgia was detected only in whites, and two smaller clusters (0–32 km radii) were detected in Southwest Georgia only in black men. Clusters of high-grade and late-stage tumors were identified primarily in the northern portion of the state among men of both races.

Conclusions

This study revealed a pattern of higher incidence and more advanced disease in northern and northwest central Georgia, highlighting geographic patterns that need more research and investigation of possible environmental determinants.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Wagner is partially sponsored by a grant from the Georgia Cancer Coalition (Proposal 038505) to the Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Program (CEPC) at the Georgia Cancer Center (Dr. John Vena).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 101 Buck Road, Health Sciences Campus, B.S. Miller Hall, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Sara E. Wagner, Sarah E. Bauer & John E. Vena

  2. Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry, Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA

    A. Rana Bayakly

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  1. Sara E. Wagner
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  2. Sarah E. Bauer
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  4. John E. Vena
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Correspondence to Sara E. Wagner.

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Wagner, S.E., Bauer, S.E., Bayakly, A.R. et al. Prostate cancer incidence and tumor severity in Georgia: descriptive epidemiology, racial disparity, and geographic trends. Cancer Causes Control 24, 153–166 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0101-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0101-0

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