Trace Element Levels in Prostate Gland as Carcinoma’s Markers

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the prostatic levels of trace elements in the malignant human prostate. Methods: Contents of 43 trace elements in normal (N, n = 37), benign hypertrophic (BPH, n = 32) and cancerous (PCa, n = 60) prostate were investigated. Measurements were performed using instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: The mass fractions of all trace elements with the exception of La, Nb, and Yb show significant variations in cancerous prostate when compared with normal and BPH prostate. The contents of Co, Hg, Rb, Sc, Se, and Zn were significantly lower and those of Ag, Al, Au, B, Be, Bi, Br, Ce, Cr, Cs, Dy, Er, Gd, Ho, Li, Mn, Mo, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Sb, Sm, Sn, Tb, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, Y, Yb, and Zr were significantly higher in PCa than in BPH tissues. When trace elements of cancerous prostate were compared with those in normal prostatic parenchyma, contents of Cd, Rb, Sc, Se, and Zn were significantly lower and Ag, Al, Au, B, Be, Bi, Br, Ce, Cr, Dy, Er, Fe, Gd, Hg, Ho, Li, Mn, Nd, Ni, Pr, Sb, Sm, Sn, Tb, Th, Tl, Y, and Zr were significantly higher. Conclusion: The Ag, Al, B, Br, Li, Mn, Ni, and Zn mass fraction in a needle-biopsy core can be used as the informative indicators for distinguishing malignant from benign prostate. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of these tests were in range 72% - 100%, 66% - 100%, and 74% - 98%, respectively.