Abstract A022: Prostate cancer stage and grade among diverse populations in Southeastern Pennsylvania

Abstract Background Racial and geographic disparities exist for incident prostate cancer (PCa). Differences in tumor characteristics are likely a result of multiple factors, including PCa screening and early detection patterns. These disparities are evident in Southeast Pennsylvania (SEPA), the region with the greatest racial and ethnic diversity and the highest number of PCa diagnoses in the state. The goal of this study is to characterize the patterns of advanced PCa among SEPA residents so we can direct educational interventions and cancer center resources to the areas and populations with the greatest need. Methods Data was received from the PA Cancer Registry (2008-2021). For these analyses, we included a subset (N=34,178) from the full dataset (N= 41,534), focusing on patients with race identified as Black (N= 8,756), White (N= 24,816), or Asian (N= 606) in the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia (N= 34,166). PCa diagnoses were categorized and analyzed by county, tumor grade, tumor stage, and age at diagnosis (excluding those under the age of 18). Early-stage PCa is defined as both localized and regional stages, while late-stage PCa is defined as distant stage. Tumor grades were categorized as low, intermediate, and high. Descriptive analyses were conducted using Independent T-Tests and Chi-Square Tests. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results Black patients were more likely to be diagnosed with PCa at a younger age (∼63 years old) compared to White (∼66 years old) and Asian (∼67 years old) patients (p<0.001). The Asian population showed a higher prevalence of aggressive disease. The frequency for late-stage diagnoses among Asian patients was 6.1% vs. 5.6% for Black patients and 3.6% for White patients (p<0.001). The prevalence of high-grade tumors among Asian patients was 27.7% vs. 23.4% for Black patients and 20.8% for White patients (p<0.001). Patients residing in Philadelphia were diagnosed at a younger age (∼64 years old) compared to its neighboring counties (∼65 years old; p<0.001). There were more diagnoses of late-stage PCa in Philadelphia (5.3%) vs. surrounding counties (3.4-4.0%; p<0.001). Both Philadelphia (22.9%) and Bucks County (22.4%) had a similar prevalence of high-grade PCa compared to surrounding counties (20.1-20.9%; p<0.001). Conclusions We observed racial and geographical disparities, which are reflected in differing PCa outcomes. Populations with a higher burden included Black and Asian patients, as well as individuals residing in Philadelphia and Bucks County. Understanding who is affected and where these disparities occur helps us to better assess our catchment area in SEPA. By studying tumor characteristics in diverse populations, we can better target interventions to improve PCa outcomes. Citation Format: Rickisa Yearwood, Jenna R. Hoopes, Oluwademilade Adefarati, Daniel Wiese, Scott W. Keith, Ann Klassen, Kevin A. Henry, Charnita Zeigler-Johnson. Prostate cancer stage and grade among diverse populations in Southeastern Pennsylvania [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A022.