Rising prostate cancer rates in South Korea

BACKGROUND. Prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates in South Korea are relatively low, but rising steadily. METHODS. We examined age-standardized incidence and mortality trends of prostate cancer in South Korea to gain further insight into prostate cancer etiology. RESULTS. Although prostate cancer incidence has been low (7.9 per 100,000 man-years), it has increased up to 28.2% between 1996-1998 and 1999-2001. Prostate cancer mortality increased 12.7-fold over a 20-year period. Despite the increase in prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates, marked differences in rates remain for Koreans, Korean Americans, and Caucasian Americans. CONCLUSIONS. The rising rates of prostate cancer in South Korea cannot be attributed entirely to PSA screening due to the low PSA screening prevalence; this trend is most likely related to increased westernization among Koreans. Interdisciplinary epidemiological studies incorporating the collection of biological samples are needed to clarify the extent to which lifestyle and genetic factors contribute to the observed racial disparity.