Whole blood selenium levels (WBSL) in patients with prostate cancer (PC), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and healthy male inhabitants (HMI) and prostatic tissue selenium levels (PTSL) in patients with PC and BPH.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate whether significant differences exist between whole blood selenium levels (WBSL) in patients with prostate cancer (PC), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), healthy male inhabitants (HMI) in northern Bavaria and the normal value. Furthermore, we investigated whether differences exist between prostatic tissue selenium levels (PTSL) in patients with PC, BPH and the benign tissue surrounding the PC.


METHODS
We prospectively evaluated WBSL in 24 patients with PC, 21 patients with BPH, and 21 HMI. Measurements of PTSL were performed in 17 patients with PC and 22 patients with BPH. In 9 cases with PC, measurements were also done in the benign tissue surrounding the carcinoma. Measurements were performed using automated graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.


RESULTS
In patients with PC, there is a significantly lower WBSL in comparison to HMI (p=0.04). There is no significant difference in WBSL between BPH-patients and HMI (p=0.13) and between PC- and BPH-patients (p=0.67). In all patients and the HMI, there is a significantly lower WBSL in comparison to the recommended normal value of 85-162 microg/l (p<0.01). There is no significant difference in PTSL between PC and BPH (p=0.49), and between PC and the tissue compartment surrounding the PC (p=0.56). PTSL seemed to be reduced in the compartment surrounding the PC in comparison to BPH (p=0.03). In PC-patients, there is no significant correlation between WBSL and prostate specific antigen (PSA) (? = -0.20; p=0.36), Gleason score (? = 0.32, p=0.13), and T-stage (? = 0.22; p=0.23).


CONCLUSIONS
Since the WBSL measured in all men with PC and BPH, and in HMI participating in our study were significantly lower than the recommended normal range, our findings may support the recommendation of selenium supplementation.
Department of Radiotherapy, St. Josefs-Hospital, Wiesbaden, Germany.
Ralph
R
Muecke
Theodor
T
Klotz
Josef
J
Giedl
Jens
J
Buentzel
Guenther
G
Kundt
Klaus
K
Kisters
Franz-Josef
FJ
Prott
Oliver
O
Micke
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012643:Selenium