WEDNESDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- Black men are already known to be at higher risk of developing prostate cancer than white men, but now a new study reports that they also appear to be more likely to develop aggressive forms of the disease.

Researchers analyzed biopsies from 131 men -- 67 blacks and 64 whites -- whose prostates were removed at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in North Carolina. The investigators found signs that the black men had more aggressive forms of prostate cancer.

The findings are scheduled to be released Wednesday at American Urological Association annual meeting in San Francisco.

"African-American men are more than twice as likely to develop prostate cancer, and these data show tumors may be more aggressive in this population," Dr. Anthony Y. Smith, a spokesman for the association, said in a news release. "African-American men should be especially vigilant about their prostate health and talk with their physicians about prostate cancer testing starting at age 40."

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on prostate cancer.