Underrepresentation of Black Patients in Preclinical Prostate Cancer Models

Black men face higher prostate cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality, yet existing preclinical models fail to reflect this disparity. This paper reviews the availability and relevance of preclinical models in representing prostate cancer in Black patients. A review of 25 studies (15,777 patients) from cBioPortal and cBioPortal GENIE, was conducted. along with a literature search across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL, to identify Black-derived cell lines. Only 36% (9/25) of studies reported racial data, with Black participants comprising just 5.18% of the studies that reported race. Cell line analysis revealed 28 Black-derived cell lines from nine individuals, highlighting a reliance on sublines, reducing biological diversity. Studies predominantly originated from the USA and lacked detailed ethnic subgroup data. This underrepresentation of Black patients restricts insights into disease mechanisms and impedes equitable care. Enhancing racial and ethnic diversity in clinical studies and preclinical models is essential for addressing these disparities.