Study Abstract: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. Among African Americans the incidence and mortality from prostate cancer is even greater. Although incidence rates in the Southern United States tend to be only slightly higher than that of the nation, a clear discrepancy exists between national mortality rates and those in the Southeastern United States. Notably high rates, particularly among African Americans are observed and in North Carolina the prostate cancer mortality rate among African Americans is the highest of any state in the nation. In spite of these statistics, very little is known about racially based differences in the etiology of this disease.