Established and defined risk factors for prostate cancer are age, family history and race. Age is the greatest risk factor known for prostate cancer. The prevalence of prostate cancer rises with increasing age.

Genetic studies conducted have found out that HOXB13 and BRCA genes increase the risk of prostate cancer. Mutation of the BRCA1 gene multiples the risk of prostate cancer twofold. On the other hand, mutation of the BRCA2 gene may increase the risk of early onset of the prostate cancer, high gleason score, and malignant progression of the disease by five to seven times.

According to the studies carried out, men of African American and Jamaican descent in the United States have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world. Men of Asian descent have lower rates of the disease. However, Asian Americans have higher rate of the disease than their ascendants in Asia, and Japanese descendants in the United States have higher rate of prostate cancer than their ascendants in Japan, as well.