Abstract
BackgroundProstate cancer (PrCa) is a malignant tumour of the prostate that has many associated risk factors. There is continuous rise in the incidence among adult blacks which is a reflection of racial differences in testosterone concentrations.MethodsThe study involves 50 PrCa patients attending or referred to two tertiary health Institutions and 25 healthy men as controls. Weight and height of participants were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Ten millilitres of venous blood sample was collected from each participant, allowed to clot, and then centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 5 min at room temperature (22–28 °C) to obtain the serum. Serum cortisol, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total prostate-specific antigen (TPSA), free prostate-specific antigen (FPSA), selenium, copper, magnesium, and zinc were determined. Prostate ultrasonography and biopsy were also done for histopathological studies.ResultFrom this study, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in weight, BMI, serum FPSA, TPSA, and copper; a non-significant increase (p > 0.05) in serum cortisol, testosterone; a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in serum LH, selenium, zinc, and magnesium; and a non-significant decrease (p > 0.05) in serum FSH were observed among people living with PrCa when compared to the controls. However, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the height between the two groups. Ultrasonography and histology revealed evidence of prostatitis, hypertrophy, and carcinoma among the test group.ConclusionIt can be concluded that PrCa is associated with increase serum cortisol, testosterone, and copper; and decreased serum LH, FSH, selenium, zinc, and magnesium concentrations and combination of biochemical, ultrasonographic, and histologic features are of diagnostic importance.
Highlights
Prostate cancer (PrCa) is a malignant tumour of the prostate that has many associated risk factors
Non-statistically significant (p > 0.05) increase in serum cortisol and testosterone among people living with PrCa when compared to the control subjects
4.4 Serum micronutrients Result of serum trace elements revealed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in serum selenium, zinc, and magnesium concentrations and a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum copper concentration among people living with PrCa when compared to the control subjects
Summary
Prostate cancer (PrCa) is a malignant tumour of the prostate that has many associated risk factors. Gonadotropins, oxidative stress, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in PrCa. In the prostate, testosterone is converted to a more potent intracellular androgen known as 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5α-reductase enzyme. Reactive oxygen species boost PrCa development by activating transcription factor NF-κB through destruction of the inhibitory unit IκBα and increase in the inflammatory cytokines, interleukins, and chemokines [5]. They are critical to tumour cell survival through the transduction pathways and play a crucial role in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis [6]
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