Radiation-treated carcinoma of prostate. Comparison of survival of black and white patients by Gleason's grading system.

The survival of 117 black and white patients treated by radiation for carcinoma of the prostate at SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn (SUNY/HSCB) and Kings County Hospital Center (KCHC) was analyzed according to Gleason's grading system. The effect of total pattern score and its relationship to stage and survival and to race were intercompared. In both black and white racial groups, there was strong correlation between high pattern score and high stage p = less than 001. The percentage of black patients presenting with high pattern score (7-10) was significantly greater, 43 versus 27%; this adversely affected stage and survival. The median survival for white and black patients was 4.8 and 3.2 years, respectively; p = 0.007. Stage for stage and grade for grade, survival was similar in both racial groups.