Antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxides in erythrocytes in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer

ABSTRACT

To investigate the possible alteration of oxidant-antioxidant status in the erythrocytes of patients with benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Malondialdehyde [MDA], an index of lipid peroxidation, the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], glutathione S-transferases [GSTs], catalase [CAT] and reduced glutathione [GSH] levels were estimated in the erythrocytes of 30 prostate cancer [PC] patients, 35 benign prostate hyperplasia [BPH] patients and 28 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. MDA level and GSTs activity levels were significantly increased, while GPx, SOD activities and the level of reduced GSH concentration were significantly decreased in the prostate cancer group versus controls [p<0.001] and BPH group [p<0.05]. The relatively higher GSTs activity and low level of reduced GSH may be due to the response of increased reactive oxygen metabolites production in the blood. The higher MDA level and lower GPx and SOD activities may be inadequate to detoxify high levels of H[2]O[2] into H[2]O leading to the formation of [asterisk]OH radical followed by the formation MDA. Oxidant-antioxidant imbalance may be one of the major factors responsible for the development of prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia