Prostate cancer in China: epidemiological trends, genomic insights, and future directions for optimized management

The incidence and mortality of prostate cancer (PCa) in China have risen sharply in recent years, posing an escalating public health concern. In contrast to Western populations, Chinese patients are more frequently diagnosed at advanced stages, often with metastatic disease and suboptimal survival outcomes. These disparities reflect intrinsic differences in epidemiological patterns, molecular landscapes, and healthcare delivery systems unique to the Chinese context. Nevertheless, prevailing PCa management paradigms, largely derived from Western-centric evidence, remain inadequately calibrated to the biological and clinical realities of Chinese patients. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the epidemiology, genomic alterations, clinical presentations, and treatment disparities of PCa in China, highlighting the urgent need for population-specific strategies. Priority areas include the development of ethnically optimized screening protocols, the integration of precision medicine approaches, and the implementation of regionally adapted prevention and early detection programs. Furthermore, expanding participation in clinical trials and accelerating translational research efforts, particularly in multi-omics and biomarker discovery, will be critical to bridging current gaps. By aligning emerging scientific innovations with localized healthcare needs, China holds the potential to reshape its prostate cancer care paradigm, improving outcomes, reducing disparities, and contributing to the global advancement of precision oncology.