Detection of serum prostate specific antigen in lactating, pregnant, and advanced breast cancer Sudanese women

Although prostate-specific antigen [PSA] is the most valuable tumor marker for the diagnosis and management of prostate carcinoma, it is widely accepted that PSA is not prostate specific. The aim of this study is to address the possibility of using the PSA as marker for the sex assignment in different categories and relevance of this test in women problems. We have evaluated the measurement of serum total PSA for differentiation between Sudanese women with advanced breast cancer [n= 10], and those lactating [n=10], pregnant [n= 10] compared with 20 healthy women as control group. Serum total PSA [TPSA] was measured using immuno-radiometric assay [IRMA]. In this study the mean age was significantly higher in advanced breast cancer groups compared with lactating group [P<0.01]. The mean serum PSA levels in the healthy control women examined [n=20] was 0.72 +/- 0.55 vs. 1.18 +/- 0.92, 1.42 +/- 2.43 and 0.51 +/- 0.13 ng/ml in serum from advanced breast cancer [n=10], pregnant [n=10] and lactating women [n=10] respectively. A significant high level of total PSA in serum of advanced breast cancer compared with the normal group [P< 0.05]. These results indicated the possible use of total PSA to distinguish between healthy women and/or women with advanced breast cancer

Cancer management in Sudan: current status and future perspectives

Sudan is one of the developing countries that face a great challenge with cancer management. About 5700 cases had been seen during year 2007 in Radiation and Isotope Center- Khartoum [RICK] and Institute of Nuclear medicine, Molecular biology, and Oncology [INMO] Wadmedani which are the only cancer centers in Sudan. Aim of this work is to highlight the difficulties of cancer management in Sudan and to propose possible solutions. This paper evaluates the current situation of cancer management in Sudan through reviewing of data available in cancer centers and reports from the Sudan national bureau of statistic. Suggestions are also made for cancer control plan in Sudan having the current situation in mind and guided by the published international data on cancer control. The preliminary analysis of the available data reveals that Sudan has very limited resources available to deal with cancer and the service provided is not evenly distributed. Establishment of new centers is extremely needed with special attention to good distribution of services. To achieve such a goal training of more staff and upgrading of the existing centers is mandatory to manage all types of cancer. Cancer registry is the right way to plan for cancer control in Sudan