Genetic Risk Scores Perform Well in Diverse Populations

Scientists continue to explore whether inherited genetic information can improve prostate cancer screening and help identify men at greatest risk.

This study evaluated a polygenic risk score—a test that combines hundreds of inherited genetic variations—in more than 98,000 participants from the national All of Us Research Program, one of the most diverse medical research projects ever conducted.

The genetic risk score successfully predicted prostate cancer risk across multiple racial and ethnic groups, although its accuracy varied somewhat among different populations. The researchers also found that genetic risk appeared to be more important in younger men than in older men.

Lifestyle factors such as body weight, smoking history, and recent use of health care also influenced how well the genetic score predicted prostate cancer risk—in contrast, income, education, and health insurance had little effect on the test’s performance.

These findings provide encouraging evidence that genetic risk scores may eventually become useful tools for personalized prostate cancer screening in men from many different backgrounds. Additional studies will be needed before these tests become part of routine medical care.  Dr. Catalona’s multiinstitutional research group, called the Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Consortium (PCASP) is actively undertaking research to examine whether a prostate-specific polygenic risk score can improve personalized patient management.

American Journal of Human Genetics. 2026.

—