S. Rotimi - Socio-Genomics Risk Determinants of Prostate Cancer Among African Men.

Prostate cancer (PCa) poses a significant health challenge in Africa, marked by disparities in incidence and outcomes. Emerging evidence suggests that an interplay between social and biological determinants of health contributes considerably to the risk and aggressiveness of PCa among African men. This presentation will explore the intersection of genetic predisposition and social determinants of health in the context of PCa in African populations. This talk will delve into the socio-genomic landscape, highlighting how genetic variants associated with African ancestry correlate with increased risk and disease severity. The role of sociobiological factors, such as stress and allostatic load, will also be examined to understand their impact on the prevalence and prognosis of PCa in African men. Specifically, this presentation will discuss our study that analyzed whole exome sequence data from Nigerian men with advanced-stage, treatment-naïve primary PCa and benign prostate hyperplasia. This study identified a pattern of germline variants in genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and PMS2, which are crucial for
DNA repair mechanisms and may influence PCa risk and treatment responses. This talk aims to shed light on the multifaceted risk determinants of PCa in Africa and outline a path toward integrating genomics into a broader public health framework that addresses biological and social determinants of health.