The aim of the study was the development of new highly precise testing methods for early diagnosis of prostate cancer.
For this purpose the values of the zinc/silver (Zn/Ag), zinc/cobalt (Zn/Co), zinc/chromium (Zn/Cr), zinc/iron (Zn/Fe), zinc/
mercury (Zn/Hg), zinc/rubidium (Zn/Rb), zinc/antimony (Zn/Sb), zinc/scandium (Zn/Sc), and zinc/selenium (Zn/Se) mass
fraction ratios in normal (n = 37), benign hypertrophic (n = 43) and cancerous tissues (n = 60) of the human prostate
gland were calculated using data obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Mean values ± standard error of
mean (M ± SΕΜ) for trace element mass fraction ratios in normal tissue were: Zn/Ag – 32270 ± 5360, Zn/Co – 27010 ±
3720, Zn/Cr – 2650 ± 360, Zn/Fe – 10.9 ± 1.4, Zn/Hg – 27010 ± 3720, Zn/Rb – 73.6 ± 6.6, Zn/Sb – 34330 ± 6160, Zn/Sc –
46790 ± 7870, and Zn/Se – 1550 ± 170, respectively. It was observed that in benign hypertrophic tissues the Zn/Cr, Zn/
Hg, Zn/Sb, and Zn/Se mass fraction ratios were lower than in normal tissues. In cancerous tissue all investigated mass
fraction ratios were significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in normal and benign hypertrophic tissues of the prostate. Finally,
we propose to use the estimation of Zn/Ag, Zn/Cr, Zn/Fe, Zn/Hg, and Zn/Sb mass fraction ratios in a needle-biopsy
core as an accurate tool to diagnose prostate cancer. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of these tests were in ranges
96-100%, 89-100%, and 94-100%, respectively. Application of the Zn/trace element mass fraction ratios instead the Zn
mass fraction is more suitable for PCa diagnosis, because accuracy of Zn/trace element mass fraction ratios does not
depend on sample mass and changes in moisture content.
The prostate gland may be a source of many health problems
in men past middle age, the most common being benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatic carcinoma (PCa). BPH is
a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland leading to
obstruction of the urethra and can significantly impair quality
of life . The prevalence of histological BPH is found in
approximately 50-60% of males age 40-50, in over 70% at
60 years old and in greater than 90% of men over 70.
In many Western industrialized countries, including North
America, PCa is the most frequently diagnosed form of noncutaneous
malignancy in males and, except for lung cancer, is
the leading cause of death from cancer. Although the etiology
of BPH and PCa is unknown, many trace elements have
been highlighted in the literature in relation to the development
of these prostate diseases.
Trace elements have essential physiological functions such as
maintenance and regulation of cell function and signalling,
gene regulation, activation or inhibition of enzymatic reactions,
neurotransmission, and regulation of membrane function.
Essential or toxic (mutagenic, carcinogenic) properties of
trace elements depend on tissue-specific need or tolerance,respectively. Excessive accumulation, deficiency or an imbalance
of the trace elements may disturb the cell functions
and may result in cellular degeneration, death and malignant
transformation.In previous studies significant changes of trace element contents
in hyperplastic and cancerous prostate in comparison
with those in the normal prostatic tissue were observed. Moreover, a significant informative value of Zn content
as a tumor marker for PCa diagnostics was shown. Hence
it is possible that besides Zn, some other trace elements also
can be used as tumor markers for distinguish between benign
and malignant prostate. Current methods applied for measurement of trace element
contents in samples of human tissue include a number of
methods. Among these methods the instrumental neutron
activation analysis with high resolution spectrometry of longlived
radionuclides (INAA-LLR) is a non-destructive and one
of the most sensitive techniques. It allows measure the trace
element contents in a few milligrams tissue without any treatment
of sample. Analytical studies of the Ag, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg,
Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, and Zn contents in normal, BPH and PCa tissue
were done by us using INAA-LLR. Nondestructive
method of analysis avoids the possibility of changing
the content of chemical elements in the studied samples,
which allowed for the first time to obtain reliable results. In particular, it was shown that the average mass fraction
of Zn in PCa tissues is 7 times lower than in healthy or BPH
tissue. Obtained results formed the basis for a new method
for differential diagnosis of BPH and PCa, the essence of
which was to determine the content of zinc in the material of
trans-rectal needle biopsy of prostate indurated site. For the
first time it was proposed to use INAA-LLR to determine zinc
and other trace element contents in needle-biopsy cores.
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