Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in non-metastatic prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES: We undertook the present study to investigate the possible alteration of oxidant/antioxidant status in the circulation of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. DESIGN AND METHODS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT) and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels were estimated in the erythrocytes of 25 non-metastatic prostate cancer patients, 36 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (controls). RESULTS: TBARS concentrations were significantly increased, while erythrocyte GPX and SOD activities were significantly decreased in the prostate cancer group versus controls (P < 0.001) and BPH group (P < 0.05). Zn levels were lowered in prostate cancer patients versus controls (P < 0.01) with no significant changes between BPH and cancer groups. Similarly, lipid peroxidation was increased (P < 0.05) with decreased SOD activity and Zn level (P < 0.05) in BPH versus controls. CONCLUSION: These results reveal an alteration in the lipid peroxidation index, with concomitant changes in the antioxidant defense system in prostate cancer patients compared to BPH patients. We hypothesize that an altered prooxidant-antioxidant balance may lead to an increase in oxidative damage and consequently may play an important role in prostate carcinogenesis.